THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 
WILLIAM  P.  HREDHJ 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS 
OF  KENDALLVILLE 


Stories  by 

Brewer  Corcoran 

* 

The  Road  to  Le  Reve 

$1.35;  carriage  paid,  $1.50 

The  Barbarian ;  or  Will  Brad 
ford's  School  Days  at  St. 
Jo's $1-50 

The  Boy  Scouts  of  Kendall- 
ville $1.50 


THE    PAGE    COMPANY 
53  Beacon  Street       Boston,  Mass. 


"  HE   WAS   ON   THE   EDGE   OF    THAT    CLIFF  " 

(See  page  264) 


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The  Boy  Scouts 
of  Kendallville 

By 

BREWER    CORCORAN 

Author  of 
"The  Road  to  Le  Reve,"  "The  Barbarian,"  etc. 

Illustrated  by 

CHARLES    E.   MEISTER 

Published  with  the  approval  of 
"THE  BOY  SCOUTS  OF  AMERICA" 

THE    PAGE    COMPANY 

BOSTON           **           MDCCCCXVm 

^@&"&'©©©IV^©1©'©&@&©@®"&©I©'@'! 

Copyright,  1918, 
BY  THE  PAGE  COMPANY 


All  rights  reserved 


First  Impression,  May,  1918 


TO 

MY  VERY  GOOD  FRIENDS 

THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

OF 
VINEYARD  HAVEN 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTEB  PAGE 

I    MR.  HALL  SETS  A  TRAP i 

II    A  GOOD  DEED 21 

III  SOMETHING  is  STOLEN 40 

IV  BACK  FROM  THE  FRONT    .......     58 

V    THE  BEAVER  PATROL 81 

VI    A  GRAVE  DECISION 102 

VII    THE  MAN  IN  OLIVE  DRAB 123 

VIII    AN  ULTIMATUM 144 

IX    THE  MARCH  PAST 165 

X    A  MIDNIGHT  FIRE 181 

XI    BIG  BROTHERS 198 

XII    OUT  OF  THE  AIR 217 

XIII  THE  WEAK  LINK 231 

XIV  STEPHEN  KENDALL  SPEAKS 253 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

"  HE    WAS    ON    THE   EDGE   OF    THAT   CLIFF.  "       (See 

page  264) Frontispiece 

"  '  I'M  NO  THIEF  '" 54 

" '  THAT'S    WHAT    DAL  .   .   .  DID    THAT    NIGHT 

"  SOMEWHERE  IN  FRANCE  "  '  " 99 

"  KENDALL  .   .   .  HALF  LIFTED  HIM  "  .  197 

"  THE  BOY'S  EYES  NEVER  FALTERED  "     .  245 

"  THEY   FOUND   THEIR  REWARD   FOR   THOROUGH 
NESS  " 259 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS  OF 
KENDALLVILLE 

CHAPTER  I 

MR.    HALL  SETS   A   TRAP 

FOR  the  fourth  time  in  three  minutes  the  man  in 
the  oil-grimed  apron  glanced  at  the  clock  above  the 
distant  door.  "  About  here,"  he  announced,  slam 
ming  the  blued  skeleton  of  an  automatic  pistol  into  a 
well-filled  tray,  "  is  where  I  call  it  a  day." 

"  You  could  finish  'em  all  before  the  whistle." 
"  Sure !  And  I  could  make  a  hit  with  old  Wein- 
berg,  if  I  could  learn  to  live  without  sleep.  Gal 
lery  play  to  the  boss  won't  get  you  anywhere,  Dick. 
You  put  in  your  little  old  eight  hours  per  and  you 
pull  out  your  little  old  pink  envelope  Saturday  noon, 
and  the  rest  of  the  time  you  do  your  little  old  best 
to  remember  you're  supposed  to  be  human,  and  that 
Weinberg  will  look  so  when  he's  dead."  He  swept 


2  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

his  tools  into  the  drawer  and  looked  at  the  lad  to 
his  right.  "  Come  on,"  he  invited ;  "  we've  time  to 
wash  before  she  blows." 

The  youngster's  lips  became  a  straight  line  and  his 
well-shaped  head  shook  decisively  as  he  picked  up 
another  piece  of  blued  steel.  "  These  guns  may  go 
to  the  trenches,  Jim,"  he  said  in  a  low  tone.  "  From 
the  way  the  work's  being  rushed,  I  guess  they're 
needed  over  there.  I  can't  help  thinking  a  few 
minutes  of  our  time  might  mean  some  chap's  life  in 
France.  Finish  up  that  one.  An  automatic  must 
be  pretty  handy  when  a  man's  poking  a  bayonet  at 
you." 

"  If  I  had  your  imagination,"  stated  the  man,  as 
he  turned  away,  "  I'd  make  up  plays  for  the  movies. 
About  two  more  years  at  a  bench  and  you'll  begin  to 
get  wise  you're  only  a  part  of  a  Kendall  machine, 
and  that  all  your  brain's  supposed  to  do  is  keep  your 
ears  from  bumping  together.  But,  before  that, 
your  kid  ideas  may  get  a  lot  of  men  in  wrong. 
People  have  beaten  the  whistle  for  years ;  it's  not  up 
to  you  to  queer  a  good  game." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  3 

The  boy's  face  flushed  and  he  looked  quickly  up 
from  his  work.  "  I'm  not  queering  any  one's  game, 
Jim,"  he  asserted,  "  and,  what's  more,  no  one's  go 
ing  to  queer  mine.  I  may  be  working  for  the  Ken 
dalls  but  I'm  my  own  boss  in  some  things.  You'll 
feel  better  when  you've  had  something  to  eat."  He 
laughed  good-naturedly.  "  Eat  a  couple  of  suppers 
and  you'll  be  ready  to  purr  when  someone  scratches 
your  ear." 

The  man  looked  back  over  his  shoulder  and  an 
answering  smile  flashed  across  his  keen  face. 
"  You're  a  good  kid,"  he  granted,  "  but,  some  day, 
someone'll  forget  to  wait  for  the  laugh  at  the  end  of 
your  stump  speech  and  bat  you  one." 

"  I'm  not  afraid  of  foul  tips,"  chuckled  the  boy. 
"  Good-night, —  and  don't  eat  your  meat  raw. 
Your  bark's  too  fierce  now." 

"  Night,  Dickie.  See  you  in  the  morning."  He 
waved  a  hand  which,  a  moment  before,  was  almost 
a  clenched  fist,  and  hurried  down  the  narrow  aisle 
between  the  long  row  of  work  benches  and  whirring 
machines,  growling,  now  and  then,  at  men  who 


4  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

growled  at  him,  for,  from  his  progress  toward  the 
stairs,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  Jim  Scott  was  no  gen 
eral  favorite  among  the  hundred  odd  workers  in  the 
big  department. 

He  had  drifted  into  Kendall ville  with  the  flood 
tide  which  rose  in  response  to  the  far-flung  adver 
tisements  for  skilled  mechanics  to  augment  the  old 
force  which  had  made  the  Kendall  Arms  Company 
famous  for  its  pistols  long  before  the  Hun  was  ready 
to  make  his  red  gulp  at  Europe.  Lean,  wiry,  ag 
gressive,  apparently  as  full  of  selfish  ideas  as  a 
loaded  Kendall  is  full  of  death,  he  made  few  friends 
and  kept  them  fewer  days.  There  was  something 
about  him  which  made  the  old  conservative  inhabi 
tants  of  the  New  England  village  distrust  him, 
and  the  majority  of  the  new-comers  were  quick  to 
see  that  the  ideas  and  practices  of  the  Kendalls  were 
good,  and  that  one  who  openly  set  out  to  run  things 
according  to  his  own  lights  was  one  whose  light 
was  apt  to  be  extinguished  suddenly  and,  therefore, 
not  an  attractive  companion  to  be  left  with  in  the 
dark. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  5 

If  any  knew  where  Scott  had  learned  his  trade, 
or,  where  he  came  from  last,  they  had  not  learned 
the  news  from  him.  Always  ready  to  talk  of  any 
subject  but  himself,  he  asked  no  more  confidence 
than  he  gave.  That  he  was  a  good  workman  was 
beyond  dispute;  that  he  promised  to  become  a  dis 
turbing  influence  in  Kendallville  was  a  well- 
grounded  suspicion.  Yet,  in  spite  of  the  more  or 
less  mystery  which  hung  over  his  past,  there  was 
a  greater  mystery  in  the  fact  that  Dick  Hall,  gen 
erally  so  retiring  and  of  so  few  words,  appeared 
ready  to  be  his  friend. 

Dick  was  well  into  his  second  year  as  a  Kendall 
employee  when  Scott  had  put  in  an  appearance,  and 
been  assigned  to  the  next  place  at  the  long  bench, 
where  the  pistol  frames  came  from  the  machines, 
to  have  rough  edges  filed  smooth.  At  first  the 
other's  chatter  had  disturbed  him,  yet,  within  the 
month,  he  had  learned  to  hear  it  only  as  he  heard  the 
rasp  and  rumble  of  the  machines  at  his  back.  But 
he  heard  other  things  more  distinctly.  Always 
ready  to  defend  the  under  dog,  he  took  Scott's  grow- 


6  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

ing  unpopularity  unto  himself  and  his  big,  generous 
heart  made  the  youngster  go  out  of  his  way  time 
after  time  to  prove  to  Scott  that  he  could  have  one 
friend  in  the  factory,  if  he  chose. 

It  bothered  some  of  the  old  timers.  Dick  had 
been  born  in  Kendallville.  His  father  had  been 
foreman  of  the  very  room  in  which  the  son  now 
worked,  and  the  day  when  failing  health  had  made 
Tom  Hall's  resignation  imperative  had  been  a  sad 
one  for  employer  and  employees  alike.  There 
wasn't  an  old  workman  who  did  not  hope  that  the 
slender  son,  who  came  into  the  room  a  week  after 
his  departure,  would  broaden  until  he  could  fill 
the  father's  position  in  the  plant  as  capably  as  he  had 
endeavored  to  fill  it  as  a  wage  earner.  But  they  did 
not  like  his  quiet  acceptance  of  Jim  Scott. 

Not  one,  but  several,  of  the  men  who  had  been 
with  the  Kendalls  since  the  time  when  the  Kendall 
.45  was  the  vital  part  of  a  plainsman's  pack  and  the 
Kendall  automatic  a  thing  still  undreamed  of  in 
"  Bullet  "  Kendall's  great  brain,  took  it  upon  them 
selves  to  drop  a  quiet  hint  to  the  lad  to  see  less  of  the 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  T 

talkative  new-comer.  Dick  took  their  hints  as  he 
took  everything,  calmly,  and  with  a  smile  which 
seemed  strangely  unfathomable  on  the  face  of  a  boy 
still  under  eighteen. 

Yet  already  the  lad  was  learning  to  think  for  him 
self  as  well  as  how  to  work  for  others.  It  ages  any 
boy  to  be  snatched  from  a  desk  in  a  village  high 
school  and  as  abruptly  deposited  before  a  work 
bench,  with  the  knowledge  that  the  bread  and  butter 
for  four  people  depends  upon  his  ability  to  hold  the 
new  job.  Dick  had  faced  this  change  without  the 
visible  quiver  of  a  lip.  Grim  necessity  banished  day 
dreams  of  a  course  at  a  technical  school ;  loyalty  to 
his  invalid  father  and  to  his  sister  and  younger 
brother  drove  all  possible  selfish  considerations  from 
his  mind.  If  he  had  hoped  to  blaze  an  unknown 
trail,  he  settled  as  gamely  into  a  wheelworn  road, 
and  he  had  the  respect  of  all  Kendallville  for  his 
grit,  and  the  love  of  all  Kendallville  for  his  cheer 
fulness. 

Bob  Robinson,  the  tightest-mouthed  old  English 
man  who  ever  served  apprenticeship  in  Sheffield, 


8  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

went  far  toward  showing  the  attitude  of  the  elders 
as  he  shut  down  his  machine  that  night  at  the  -roar 
of  the  whistle  and  started  for  the  wash  room.  "  A 
day's  work  is  a  day's  work,"  he  said,  as  he  shuffled 
past  on  tired  feet,  "  and  more  than  that  is  poor 
work." 

"  Just  going  to  finish  up  this  one/'  retorted  Dick, 
without  taking  his  eyes  from  the  dull,  blue  steel. 

"And  there  you  re  right,  my  lad.  Finish  what 
you  start,  but  don't  start  what  you're  too  weary  to 
finish  well."  He  stopped  and  squinted  over  the 
boy's  shoulder.  "  Since  when  have  you  been  finish 
ing  triggers  ?  "  he  demanded  gruffly. 

Dick  stiffened,  but,  the  next  instant,  his  eyes  be 
gan  to  twinkle  as  he  leaned  further  over  his  task. 
"  Might  have  to  do  it  some  day,"  he  answered  eva 
sively  ;  "  it's  well  to  know  how." 

The  old  man  snorted.  "  That  slacker  Scott's  quit 
early  and  you're  shielding  him,"  he  charged. 

"It's  not  a  question  of  shielding;  it's  a  question 
of  getting  out  the  guns." 

"  And  it's  men  like  Scott  who  ought  to  be  made 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  9 

to  'face  them,"  growled  Robinson.  "  I  know  the 
breed.  It's  short  shift  they're  giving  them  in  the 
old  country  this  day.  Tis  time  we  over  here  learned 
that  trade  as  well.  Leave  be,  boy !  " 

"  Sure ! "  Dick's  grin  was  cheerful  now  and,  as 
he  straightened,  he  dropped  the  finished  part  into 
its  box  on  Scott's  bench,  then  wiped  his  hands  on  a 
bit  of  waste.  "  Gee,  but  I'll  be  glad  to  get  home! 
I'm  hungry.  Can  I  go  along  with  you?  " 

The  old  mechanic  puffed  out  his  cheeks,  inclined 
at  first,  to  be  a  bit  stuffy  because  the  lad  had  neg 
lected  his  advice ;  but  then  he  caught  the  broader 
view,  and  his  red  face  grew  even  redder.  "  'Tis 
come  to  a  pretty  pass  when  babes  teach  their  elders," 
he  grumbled.  "  Come,  Richard ;  you're  Tom's  own 
boy  and  I'd  like  to  break  a  cane  over  your  back. 
But  let  Scott  be  the  slacker,  I  say.  Even  a  dog's 
known  by  the  company  he  keeps."  Together  they 
left  the  shop. 

"  Hello,  Dickie !  "  greeted  a  good-looking  young 
ster,  slapping  the  broad  back  as  he  rushed  past. 
"  See  you  later?  " 


10  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Not  to-night,  Jim.  Going  to  stay  home  with 
Pop." 

"  All  right,"  he  called  cheerily.  "  We'll  get  you 
some  day.  You  can't  keep  out  from  where  you 
belong." 

"  Young  Farnsworth  running  loose  nights  and 
trying  to  get  you  into  pool  rooms  with  him?"  de 
manded  Mr.  Robinson,  fiercely. 

"  Jimmie's  not  that  sort." 

"  Then  what's  he  mean  by  trying  to  lure  you 
out  ?  "  he  insisted,  his  natural  suspicion  far  from 
satisfied. 

"  Oh,  it's  just  one  of  his  kid  jokes,  I  guess.  He's 
been  picking  on  me  to  join  some  Boy  Scouts." 

"  Never  heard  of  'em." 

"  It's  an  organization  founded  by  a  fellow  coun 
tryman  of  yours,  Mr.  Robinson, —  General  Baden 
Powell." 

"  Then  it's  a  little  bit  of  all  right,"  declared  the 
man  promptly,  "  and  you  join  right  quick." 

"  I'll  think  it  over,"  promised  Dick,  doing  his 
level  best  to  keep  his  face  straight.  But  stolid  Mr. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  11 

Robinson  saw  no  joke.  His  loyalty  to  the  old  coun 
try  was  too  deep  to  permit  that,  and,  all  the  way  to 
the  Hall  cottage,  he  spun  yarns  about  the  deeds  of 
B.  P.  in  South  Africa  and  of  the  English  army  all 
over  the  world. 

Dick,  in  spite  of  his  interest,  was  not  sorry  to  bid 
the  slow-moving  mechanic  good  night  and  his  pace 
quickened  as  he  hurried  up  the  short  path  to  the 
steps,  humming  softly  to  himself  and  already  be 
ginning  to  feel  rested. 

Even  as  he  opened  the  door,  he  heard  a  gay  call 
from  the  kitchen,  and,  the  next  moment,  his  sister 
was  shaking  a  reproving  finger  at  him.  "  You're 
late,  Dick,"  she  charged,  "  and  it's  your  fault  if 
supper's  spoiled." 

"  If  that's  all  I  ever  have  to  worry  about,"  he 
laughed,  throwing  off  his  coat  and  giving  her  rosy 
cheek  a  pat  as  he  pushed  past  to  wash  his  face  and 
hands  again,  "  I'm  going  to  have  a  calm  and  placid 
life.  You're  some  cook,  Sally!  How's  Pop,  this 
evening?  " 

"  Still    the    same    lazy    good-for-nothing,"    an- 


12  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

swered  a  cheery  voice  from  the  little  front  room. 
"  Anything  new  at  the  factory?  " 

"  Nothing  but  another  rumor  of  more  hands." 

"  Bullet's  certainly  doing  his  bit  to  help  the  right 
side,"  said  the  voice  wistfully.  "  Wish  I  could  do 
my  share." 

"  Mr.  Kendall  asked  after  you  to-day,"  announced 
the  boy  quickly. 

"Which  one?" 

"  Mr.  Stephen." 

"  There's  a  man  worth  molding  yourself  after, 
Dick." 

"  So  I've  heard  you  say,"  chuckled  the  son. 
"  Scared  me  to  death,  though.  I  always  expect  to 
be  fired  when  he  stops  to  say  something.  He  barks 
like  one  of  his  own  guns.  I'd  rather  have  old  '  Bul 
let  '  stalking  round." 

"  They're  both  strong  men,"  stated  the  father 
firmly,  "  fair,  square  and  on  the  job,  and  they  want 
their  people  the  same." 

The  boy  came  to  the  doorway,  the  towel  still  in 
his  hand.  "What's  the  matter,  Pop?"  he  asked; 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  13 

"  losing  your  sense  of  humor,  or  am  I  really  leading 
your  pet  goat  round  on  a  string  ?  " 

The  thin,  white  father  half  turned  in  the  in 
valid's  chair  and  looked  up  into  the  dancing  brown 
eyes  of  his  handsome,  well-built  boy.  "  Any  time 
you  get  my  goat,  kid,  you  tie  a  bell  on  it  and  pin 
a  medal  on  your  swelled  out  chest,"  advised  Mr. 
Hall  solemnly.  "  Are  you  going  to  push  me  in  to 
supper,  or  leave  me  here  to  starve  to  death  ?  " 

"  If  I  take  you  in,  will  you  promise  not  to  tell 
any  stories  about  Steve  Kendall  ?  " 

"  But  Sally  likes  'em.  Sally's  a  young  woman 
of  excellent  taste." 

"  Sally's  a  young  woman  who's  cooked  an  excel 
lent  supper  that's  losing  all  its  taste,"  called  the  girl 
from  the  kitchen.  "  You  two  stop  fighting  and 
come  along." 

"  Now  will  you  be  good,  Pop  ?  " 

"  Looks  'sif  we'd  have  to  be,  son.  No  wise  man 
invites  troubles  with  the  cook.  Guess  I  can  walk 
to-night." 

"  Guess  you  won't  try,"  vetoed  the  youngster  and 


14  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

with  that  he  caught  the  back  of  the  chair  and  pushed 
it  gently  to  the  supper  table.  "  Where's  the  kid  ?  " 
he  demanded,  glancing  at  his  sister. 

"  Reading,  I  suppose.     Nelson !  " 

"  In  a  minute,"  agreed  a  muffled  voice. 

"  Where's  he  hiding  this  time?  " 

"  Bedroom.,  I  guess.  He  offered  to  help  me  with 
the  pudding,  but  all  he'd  do  was  eat  currants  and 
I  shooed  him  out." 

"Come  on,  Nelse!" 

"  Yes,  sir."  The  reply  was  prompt  and  the  boy 
came  running  in,  his  eyes  sparkling.  "  Some 
story !  "  he  announced.  "  That  guy  Stevenson  was 
no  piker  when  it  came  to  describing  a  pirate." 

"  Glad  to  hear  he's  improving  your  English, 
youngster,"  suggested  the  father. 

"  Everybody  pick  on  little  Nelson !  "  exclaimed 
the  boy.  "Go  ahead;  I'll  get  even  on  that  meat. 
About  three  slices,  Dick,  and  then  let  Sis  see  how 
much  potato  she  dares  decorate  it  with." 

"  I  envy  you  that  appetite,"  declared  Mr.  Hall. 
"  I've  forgotten  what  it  is  to  be  hungry." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  15 

"  I'm  sorry,  father ;  I  do  the  best  — " 

"  Stop  right  there,  Sister,"  he  commanded. 
"  You're  the  best  little  cook  who  ever  happened, 
and  everything  you  make  is  fine." 

"  Certainly  is,"  agreed  Dick  promptly. 

"  And,  if  you  don't  believe  I'm  on  that  band 
wagon/'  chimed  in  Nelson,  "just  test  me  with  a 
dash  more  of  that  potato." 

The  girl  flushed  with  delight,  for  there  was  no 
more  mistaking  the  sincerity  of  their  praise  than 
there  was  danger  in  overlooking  their  steadfast  loy 
alty  to  her.  And,  in  this,  she  was  like  the  rest. 
No  one  could  suggest  criticism  of  a  Hall  to  a  Hall. 
They  might  joke  and  scold  and  tease  each  other,  but 
that  was  as  much  jealously  guarded  family  privi 
lege  as  it  was  a  prominent  family  characteristic. 

The  latter  was  well  proved  during  the  remainder 
of  the  meal,  and  Nelson  and  his  untamed  appetite 
were  the  chief  sufferers.  To  have  heard  the  father 
enter  into  the  fun,  one  never  would  have  dreamed 
that  he  knew  his  days  were  numbered,  or  was  con 
scious  that  the  world  contained  such  a  thing  as 


16  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

suffering.  Since  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  Nel 
son  was  a  baby,  and  especially  since  his  own  col 
lapse  two  years  before,  he  had  tried  his  best  to  live 
for  his  children  and  for  them  alone  he  clung  to  the 
slender  thread  of  life. 

Of  the  four,  he  alone  had  to  make  pretense  of 
eating,  and,  while  they  watched  him  covertly,  none 
referred  to  his  lack  of  appetite  until  all  three  were 
through.  Then  Nelson,  gulping  a  last  mouthful  of 
pudding  with  a  mighty  effort,  leaned  back  in  his 
chair  and  folded  his  hands  across  his  stomach. 
"  When  Pop's  through  gorging  himself,  Sis,  wake 
me  up,"  he  suggested  and  promptly  began  to  snore. 

"  Just  going  to  have  one  more  dab,  boy." 

"  Not  another  bit,"  the  girl  stated  sternly,  playing 
a  game  too  long  familiar  to  be  pathetic  now; 
"  you've  eaten  too  much  already.  Run  along  into 
the  other  room,  Nelse,  and  I'll  do  the  dishes." 

Two  disgusted  snores  came  in  instant  protest,  yet, 
before  Dick  could  move  the  invalid's  chair  from  the 
table,  little  Nelse  had  his  hands  full  of  dishes  and 
was  as  busy  as  a  contented  bee, 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  17 

The  elder  son  moved  the  father  back  into  the 
front  room  and  lit  the  lamp  on  the  round  center 
table.  "  Feelin'  any  better  this  evening?  " 

"  'Bout  as  well  as  I  ever  will,  old  man,"  came 
the  unexpected  answer  in  even  tones.  "  I'm  a  bad 
drag  on  a  lad  your  age,  but  the  two  youngsters  need 
me  awhile  longer." 

"  Don't !  "  he  cried  chokingly. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  quit,  Dick;  I'm  not  that  sort 
It  isn't  in  a  Hall.  But  you  asked  me  and  neither  of 
us  is  afraid  of  the  truth." 

"  Of  course  you're  not  going  to  quit,"  he  asserted 
gamely.  "  But  don't  ever  say  you're  a  drag.  I 
owe  you  everything  I  have  and  I'm  doing  what  little 
I  can  to  repay  you,  now  that  I  have  the  chance." 

"  You've  done  that  a  thousandfold.  You're 
growing  into  the  kind  of  man  your  mother  knew 
you'd  be.  She  was  worth  working  for,  Dickie." 

"  So  are  you,"  he  said  huskily;  "  so  are  the  kids. 
I  wish  she  could  see  them  now." 

"  Perhaps  she  can,"  murmured  the  father.  "  So 
long  as  we  all  live  straight  lives,  I  believe  she  can. 


18  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

By  the  way,  Nelson's  school  report  fell  off  this 
month.  He  isn't  getting  into  bad  company,  is  he?  " 

"  Not  that  I've  heard  of.  I'll  look  round  a  bit 
more  carefully  to-morrow.  There' re  a  lot  of  new 
boys  in  town, —  came  with  the  new  gangs  at  the 
plant." 

"  Keep  your  eye  on  him ;  I  can't, —  not  that  way, 
you  know." 

"  There  ought  to  be  some  better  way  of  watching 
that  whole  young  crowd,"  said  Dick  thoughtfully. 
"  Why  don't  you  put  it  up  to  Mr.  Kendall  the  next 
time  he  comes  to  see  you?  He's  usually  ready  to 
lend  a  hand  in  anything  of  that  sort." 

"  I  was  talking  about  it  this  afternoon  with  Mr. 
Tregressor." 

"  That  new  minister  ?  " 

"  Ah-ah !  He's  a  good  deal  of  a  man,  too, — 
human  all  the  way  through.  And  he  understands 
other  people's  troubles  because  he's  been  through 
trouble  himself.  He's  a  Canadian  and  one  son's 
been  killed  at  the  front  already,  while  another  is  on 
the  way  home,  crippled  for  life." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  19 

"Oh!" 

The  man  nodded  thoughtfully.  "  I  know  how 
young  Tregressor's  going  to  feel,"  he  began. 

"  Please,  let's  talk  of  something  else.  You  did 
your  bit  with  General  Miles  in  Porto  Rico,  and  you 
gave  your  health  to  your  country.  I'm  as  proud  of 
that  as  if  they'd  given  you  the  Medal  of  Honor. 
But  we're  not  going  to  discuss  it ;  it's  happened,  and 
that's  all  there  is  to  it." 

The  father  glanced  up.  "  Going  to  keep  the  old 
man  cheerful,  are  you  ?  "  he  said.  "  Good !  I'll  help 
you.  Toss  me  that  book  and  I'll  read  myself  into  a 
better  mood." 

Dick  did  not  hand  him  the  book,  but  said : 

"  Let  me  read  to  you." 

"  Couldn't  think  of  it." 

"  Haven't  a  thing  to  do." 

"Sure?" 

"  Absolutely." 

"Not  a  thing?" 

"  Not  a  thing." 

"  Fine !  Then  put  on  your  hat  and  coat  and  run 


20  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

up  to  Mr.  Tregressor's.  I  told  him  you'd  be  up 
there  this  evening." 

"  You  set  a  trap  for  me,"  declared  the  boy,  smil 
ing  in  spite  of  himself. 

"And  you  fell  into  it  head  first.  Go  along;  I 
want  to  read." 

"  But  why  should  I  go  ?     I  never  go  anywhere." 

"  That's  the  first  reason ;  the  second's  that  Mr. 
Tregressor  wants  to  see  you." 

"Why?" 

Mr.  Hall  picked  up  his  book,  opened  it,  then 
peered  over  the  top.  "  If  I  had  your  curiosity,"  he 
chuckled,  "  I'd  go  ask  him." 

"  If  I  had  your  disposition,"  laughed  the  boy,  as 
he  rose  and  laid  his  hand  on  the  feeble  shoulder  for 
an  instant,  "  I'd  —  I'd  — " 

"You'd  what?" 

"  I'd  ask  for  nothing  else  in  this  world,"  blurted 
Dick  and  ran  out  of  the  room. 


CHAPTER  II 

.  A   GOOD   DEED 

As  Dick  came  out  into  the  cold,  spring  night,  the 
smile  faded  from  his  lips  and  he  began  to  suspect 
that  his  father  had  had  a  far  more  definite  purpose 
than  mere  whim  in  sending  him  to  see  Mr.  Tregres- 
sor.  Yet,  try  as  he  would,  he  could  not  discover 
any  explanation  for  his  mission.  He  knew  the  min 
ister  by  sight.  From  the  first  there  had  been  some- 
tiling  strangely  appealing  in  the  calm,  strong  face 
and  the  straight  and  upright  bearing  of  the  stocky, 
broad-shouldered  man  who  had  a  nod  and  a  cheerful 
word  for  all.  But  Dick  was  not  one  to  force  ac 
quaintanceship,  and  Mr.  Tregressor  apparently  had 
had  other  things  to  do  besides  halting  hurrying  boys 
on  their  way  to  and  from  work. 

His  curiosity  became  so  sharpened  that  it  crowded 
other  thoughts  from  his  mind,  and,  for  once,  he 
walked  with  head  bowed  and  eyes  fixed  on  the  snow. 

21 


22  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Only  an  amused  chuckle  close  to  his  ear  brought 
him  back  to  realities,  and  the  knowledge  that  Jim 
Scott  had  fallen  into  step  at  his  side.  "  Say! "  he 
exclaimed,  "  bray  louder  next  time  and  don't  scare 
a  chap  out  of  a  year's  growth." 

"  Quit  walking  in  your  sleep,  or  you'll  get  run 
over  by  a  steam  roller  some  day,"  advised  Jim, 
"  Why  the  big  bluff  at  making  people  think  you're 
thinking?" 

"  I  sure  was  in  a  trance !  "  Dick  agreed.  "  If  you 
hadn't  come  along,  I'd  probably  have  been  run  in  for 
blocking  traffic  at  the  corner." 

"  You  find  any  traffic  to  block  in  this  hole-in-the- 
ground  and  I'll  pin  a  medal  on  you.  This  is  the 
deadest  village  that  ever  escaped  being  put  on  a 
map." 

"  Then  why  stick  round  ?  " 

The  man  looked  at  him  quizzically,  then  shrugged 
his  shoulders.  "  I've  got  to  eat,"  he  offered,  "  and, 
to  eat,  I've  got  to  work.  The  working's  plentier 
than  the  eating  here,  but  I  guess  I'll  stick  round 
awhile  longer.  If  they  had  sense  enough  to  start 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  23 

a  union  here,  we  men  would  come  nearer  getting 
what's  coming  to  us,  and  that  Kendall  bunch 
wouldn't  throw  out  their  chests  so  far." 

"  Don't  think  they  object  to  unions ;  they  pay  more 
than  union  scale,  anyway.  I  don't  believe  you'll 
find  better  folks  to  work  for  anywhere  in  the  United 
States." 

"  Oh,  you  moss-backs  all  talk  that  way,"  said 
Scott  disgustedly.  "  It's  because  you  don't  know 
what  you  want." 

"  I  know  what  you  want,"  retorted  Dick  good- 
naturedly,  "  and  that's  a  punching  bag  in  front  of 
you  all  the  time.  Don't  you  ever  get  sick  of  kick 
ing?" 

Again  the  man  glanced  at  him  out  of  the  corner 
of  his  eyes.  Then  his  whole  attitude  changed. 
"  Guess  not,"  he  said  carelessly ;  "  it's  good  exercise 
and  sometimes  turns  into  a  good  game." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  Nothin'  much.     Where  you  headed  ?  " 

"  Going  up  on  the  hill  to  see  Mr.  Tregressor." 

"  Don't  know  him." 


24  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Neither  do  I." 

"  Then  why  do  it  ?  Come  on  and  take  in  the 
movies." 

"  Have  to  save  the  pennies  up  my  way." 

"  My  treat." 

"  Much  obliged.  Made  it  a  rule  to  accept  nothing 
I  can't  afford  to  return.  Understand,  don't  you, 
old  fellow?" 

"  As  much  as  I  do  a  lot  of  your  other  crazy  ideas, 
youngster.  You  might  break  over,  to  keep  me  from 
hating  myself  alone." 

Dick  shook  his  head.  "  Nothing  doing !  "  he  re 
peated  as  they  rounded  the  main  corner  of  the  town. 

"  Hello,  Dick ! "  a  man  of  about  thirty  called,  as 
he  recognized  the  boy  and  stepped  out  of  the  crowd 
hovering  before  the  door  of  a  pool  and  news  room. 
"  What's  brought  you  down  town?  " 

"  Hello !  "  the  boy  responded  cordially.  "  I'm 
passing  through  your  city." 

"  Better  stop  over  a  couple  of  trains.  We  peo 
ple,"  he  went  on,  nodding  to  the  rest  in  front  of  the 
store,  "  are  going  to  shoot  a  game  of  pool.  Don't 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  25 

suppose  it  would  do  us  any  good  to  ask  you?" 

"  Does  me  a  lot  of  good  to  have  you  think  of  it, 
but  I  can't." 

"  Let  me  in  ?  "  suggested  Scott.  "  I  invented  that 
game." 

Harry  Lane  looked  at  him  a  second  time.  It 
was  plain  to  see  that  he  was  not  wildly  enthusiastic. 
"  It's  an  open  game,"  he  said;  "  if  you  want  to  take 
a  chance,  come  to  it." 

"  So  long,  then !  "  called  Dick,  as  he  went  on. 
"  See  you  both  in  the  morning." 

"What's  the  matter  with  that  kid?"  demanded 
Scott,  as  he  turned  toward  the  store. 

"  No  one  round  here  ever  found  anything  the  mat 
ter  with  him.  If  he  doesn't  want  to  hang  round  a 
pool  room  with  us  loafers,  though,  that's  our  hard 
luck.  Dick  Hall's  a  corker  and  don't  you  make 
any  bad  bets  against  that." 

"  It  was  no  reason  for  his  acting  so  bloomin' 
superior." 

"  Say,  look  here ;  you  came  to  Kendallville  on 
your  own  invitation  and  you  went  to  work  for  the 


26  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Kendalls  because  you  were  the  one  to  ask  for  a  job 
and  you're  coming  in  here  on  your  own  bid,  not 
ours.  The  rest's  up  to  you.  Get  me  ?  " 

"  Sure !  Some  day  you'll  wake  up.  Until  then, 
I'll  take  my  naps  alone  at  the  movies.  I  don't  horn 
in  where  I'm  not  wanted." 

"  Suit  yourself ;  I  was  going  out  of  my  way  to 
be  decent  to  a  friend  of  Dick's."  Without  another 
word  he  went  inside,  leaving  Scott  to  find  amuse 
ment  where  he  chose.  But  it  was  not  at  the 
movies. 

As  Dick  left  the  main  thoroughfare  for  a  darker 
street,  his  steps  began  to  lag  and  he  caught  himself 
wondering  how  he  was  going  to  begin  a  conversa 
tion  with  a  man  he'd  never  spoken  to.  Yet  scarcely 
had  he  rung  the  Tregressors'  bell,  and  stepped  inside 
the  quickly  opened  door,  before  he  found  himself 
shaking  hands  with  the  white-haired  man,  and  as 
serting  that  he  was  glad  to  be  there. 

"  The  evening's  little  more  than  a  baby,  Hall," 
the  man  said,  with  a  smile  which  seemed  to  bubble 
from  the  depths  of  clear,  deep-seeing  blue  eyes, 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  27 

"  so  come  into  my  study  and  we'll  let  it  grow  a  bit 
older,  while  we  get  acquainted.  I've  wanted  to 
know  your  father's  son  for  some  time.  I'm  feeling 
especially  partial  toward  sons  to-night ;  I've  just  had 
a  wire  that  my  own  boy  has  reached  Montreal  and 
is  coming  to  see  me  as  fast  as  the  trains  will  bring 
him." 

"  Is  that  the  one  who's  been  in  the  trenches  ?  " 
"  The  one  who  was  there  and  who  has  come 
back." 

"  I  know  about  the  other  one.  Father  told  me." 
The  minister  held  open  the  door  while  the  young 
ster  passed  into  the  cosy,  lamp-lit  study.  "  Did  he? 
I'm  glad  of  that.  He  was  a  good  son  and  a  good 
soldier.  No  man  could  ask  that  more  be  said  of 
him.  But  so's  this  old  fellow  who's  coming  home," 
he  added  in  a  tone  which  astounded  Dick,  used 
as  he  was  to  cheerfulness  and  bravery.  "  You'll 
like  Dal.  There  never  lived  a  cleaner  sportsman." 
"  Will  he  stay  long?  "  The  question  was  more  to 
cover  his  feeling  of  awkwardness  over  being  in  a 
strange  house  than  for  any  other  reason.  Even  as 


28  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

he  asked  it,  his  host  nodded  toward  a  chair  and  Dick 
sank  into  it  as  if  it  was  a  sure  refuge  from  embar 
rassment. 

"  Can't  say.  He's  never  been  much  for  idling, 
but  he's  earned  a  rest  during  these  last  two  years.  I 
hope  he'll  stay;  possibly  he'll  find  work  here.  A 
man  with  but  one  arm  is  of  no  further  use  at  the 
front.  Dal  will  enjoy  your  father;  old  soldiers  love 
to  spin  their  yarns." 

"  But  father's  service  in  Porto  Rico  was  a  small 
thing  compared  to  what  your  son  has  been  through, 
sir." 

"  No  service  is  small,  my  boy,  when  it  is  done  with 
a  whole  heart  for  one's  country." 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  mean  that !  "  cried  Dick,  thoroughly 
uncomfortable  at  being  misunderstood.  "  I  meant 
that  father'd  have  to  do  all  the  listening.  He  didn't 
see  any  real  fighting,  you  know.  It  was  the  climate 
and  the  fever  which  broke  him." 

"  He  took  his  chance,  like  any  other  brave  man 
would,  and  he's  paying  the  cost,  like  every  true  man 
does  —  without  a  whimper.  His  life  here  in  Ken- 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  29 

dallville  is  a  better  sermon  than  I'll  ever  preach,  my 
boy.  You  can't  put  self-sacrifice  and  true  unselfish 
ness  into  mere  words." 

"  I  guess  that's  right,"  Dick  agreed,  looking  at  the 
man  in  the  big  chair  across  the  book-littered  table, 
with  big,  honest,  brown  eyes,  "  I  guess,  when  you 
come  to  figure  things  down  as  far  as  they'll  go, 
unselfishness  is  the  biggest  thing  in  the  world." 

"  It's  seemed  so  to  me  during  the  forty  years  I've 
been  preaching  it.  But  I  didn't  ask  you  here  for1 
this  but — "  He  stopped  abruptly  and  a  pleased 
smile  flashed  across  his  thin  lips.  "  That's  the  bell," 
he  exclaimed,  springing  to  his  feet  and  starting  for 
the  door.  "  It  must  be  some  of  my  youngsters. 
They  usually  turn  up  about  this  time,  when  they 
can't  find  anything  better  to  do." 

Dick,  surprised  at  the  change  which  had  come 
over  him,  and,  marveling  at  his  almost  boyish  haste, 
rose,  too,  and  stood  by  the  table,  uncomfortably 
shifting  from  one  foot  to  the  other.  In  the  hall,  he 
heard  excited  babblings  and  the  booming  of  the  bass 
voice  above  the  boyish  trebles ;  then,  into  the  room, 


30  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

piled  four  excited  boys  of  about  fifteen,  followed  by 
the  beaming  Mr.  Tregressor. 

"  And  here,"  proclaimed  Jimmie  Farnsworth, 
stopping  abruptly,  "  is  the  leading  citizen  who 
couldn't  get  out  to-night!  How-do-do  and  hello, 
Dick.  Did  you  change  your  mind  when  you 
changed  to  your  best  coat  ?  " 

"  Dick  Hall !  "  mumbled  little  Ned  West.  "  Dick 
Hall!" 

"  I'll  vote  that  Mr.  Tregressor  caught  him  in  one 
of  those  traps  he  was  explaining  last  week,"  ex 
claimed  Nick  Root,  the  incorrigible. 

"  You're  wrong,  Nick,"  contradicted  Mr.  Tregres 
sor,  as  he  pushed  Hal  Winslow  toward  a  convenient 
chair  and  turned  to  close  the  door.  "  All  I  did  was 
to  be  conceited  enough  to  think  I'd  make  good  bait 
for  your  trap.  I've  lured  him  here;  it's  you  fel 
lows'  work  to  catch  him." 

Dick  looked  from  one  pleased  face  to  another  and 
a  helpless  grin  began  to  crinkle  the  corners  of  his 
mouth.  "  I  seem  to  be  it,"  he  acknowledged,  "  but 
I  don't  get  the  answer." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  31 

"  We're  the  ones  who're  going  to  get  that,"  de 
clared  Nick.  "  You  sit  down  in  that  chair  and  don't 
say  '  yes  '  till  I  snap  my  fingers." 

"  All  you  do,  Nick,"  asserted  Jim  Farnsworth, 
"  is  to  go  into  that  corner  before  you're  put  there 
and,  when  you  get  there,  keep  quiet.  Dick's  a  wily 
bird  and  the  sort  of  noise  you  make  would  scare  a 
flock  of  crows." 

"Why  not  let  Mr.  Tregressor  talk?"  suggested 
West  mildly.  "  He  can  say  it  better  than  we  can." 

"Which  same  is  a  fine  compliment  —  not!" 
snorted  Nick  disgustedly. 

"  It's  Jim's  work,"  stated  Mr.  Tregressor,  cross 
ing  to  his  own  chair  and  looking  about  the  room 
contentedly.  "I'm  going  to  take  a  back  seat  so  that 
Nick  won't  be  lonely." 

"  My  modesty's  always  bringing  me  some  re 
ward,"  grinned  Nick.  "  Begin  the  big  talk,  Jimmie, 
and  I'll  applaud  just  where  you  made  me  promise 
to." 

"  You'll  keep  still, —  and  that's  a  command,"  re 
torted  Jimmie. 


32  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Yes,  Jim,"  Nick,  instantly  serious,  added  to 
Dick's  wonderment. 

"  You  see,"  began  Jim  slowly,  turning  toward 
Dick.  "  Mr.  Tregressor  had  the  idea  that  some  of 
us  fellows  were  not  making  as  much  of  ourselves  as 
we  might  and  he  invited  us  four  up  to  supper  one 
night  and  explained  the  Boy  Scouts  and,  the  more 
he  explained,  the  more  of  a  hit  it  made  with  us. 
Here  were  we  chaps,  living  within  half  an 
hour's  walk  of  the  woods,  and  knowing  noth 
ing  about  them,  except  where  the  swimming  hole 
is  and  when  chestnuts  ought  to  be  ripe.  Then, 
the  next  Saturday,  he  took  us  on  a  hike  and  showed 
us  how  we  thought  we'd  seen  things,  but  really 
hadn't  had  our  eyes  open.  And  he  cooked  us  the 
bulliest  dinner  over  a  regular  camp  fire  and  taught 
us  how  to  do  it,  too." 

"  Only  everything  you  cooked  the  next  week 
tasted  like  hard  boiled  smoke,"  threw  in  Nick. 

"  It  was  all  right  the  time  after,"  declared  Jim 
belligerently.  "  We've  certainly  learned  a  lot  about 
camping,  Dick.  And  we  organized  a  Scout  patrol, 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  33 

Mr.  Tregressor  got  a  commission  as  our  scout  mas 
ter  and  Hank  Winn  and  Ted  Field  joined.  That 
gave  us  full  membership  and  we  got  to  work  on  the 
real  part  of  Scouting,  which  is  learning  how  to  be 
prepared  for  everything.  We  meet  here  once  a 
week.  You  wouldn't  come  when  I  asked  you  to," 
he  finished  in  a  hurt  voice,  "  but  we  want  you  to 
join." 

"  But  you  just  said  your  membership  was  full, 
Jim." 

"  Our  patrol  is  full,  but  we  want  you  to  start  a 
new  one,"  burst  out  Ned  West,  and  then  turned 
scarlet  because  every  one  remained  silent. 

It  was  Dick's  turn  to  take  a  long  breath  now.  He 
liked  these  boys,  even. though  they  were  all  younger, 
and  he  liked  Mr.  Tregressor  more  than  he  had  ever 
supposed  he  would  come  to  like  a  man  in  so  short  a 
time.  "  'Fraid  I'm  too  old,"  he  offered,  desperate. 

"  No  boy  is  too  old  to  be  a  Scout  and  no  man  is 
too  old  to  live  up  to  Scout  law,"  said  Mr.  Tregressor 
quietly.  "  Don't  make  an  over-hasty  decision,  Dick. 
We're  all  in  earnest  in  asking  you  to  do  this.  You 


34  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

can  bring  in  the  older  fellows  by  forming  a  patrol  of 
your  own." 

:c  They  might  join  if  you  asked  'em ;  they  wouldn't 
for  me." 

The  man  smiled.  "  It  wouldn't  hurt  you  to  try, 
would  it  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  don't  suppose  it  would,"  acknowledged  the  boy 
slowly.  "  But,  honestly,  I  haven't  time  to  go  out  in 
the  woods.  I  have  to  work,  and,  when  I'm  not  in 
the  shop,  I  like  to  hang  round  with  father  and  the 
kids.  I've  never  joined  anything.  Saturday  after 
noons  are  about  my  only  holidays  and  I've  always 
played  ball  then  when  I  could.  I'd  hate  to  give  that 
up.  It  sounds  selfish,  I  know,  but  I  love  baseball 
and  I  don't  care  much  about  the  woods,  except  when 
there's  a  brook,"  he  added. 

"  You  give  up  ball  and  there'd  be  a  riot  in  town," 
prophesied  Nick.  "  As  for  the  woods,  you  don't 
like  'em  because  you  don't  know  'em,  I  used  to 
look  for  bears  every  time  I  heard  a  twig  snap,  and, 
as  for  meetin'  a  rabbit  face  to  face  —  not  for  mine ! 
Now  I  can  imitate  three  birds." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  35 

"  One  of  'em's  a  parrot,"  stated  Jim.  "  If  you 
want  to  air  any  more  of  your  personal  history,  wig 
wag  it." 

"  You  couldn't  read  it,  if  I  did:  I'm  too  fast  for 
you/' 

"  You're  not.     I  taught  you  the  code." 

"  Then  catch  this."  Nick  was  on  his  feet  in  a 
flash.  His  arms  began  to  swing,  up,  down,  up 
down,  first  right,  then  to  the  left,  then  poising,  hesi 
tating,  sweeping  in  the  clean-cut  arcs  of  the  two- 
arm  semaphore  code.  For  a  moment  Jim  Farns- 
worth  followed  him  intently  but  then  turned  to  Mr. 
Tregressor,  a  foolish  smile  playing  around  the  cor 
ners  of  his  mouth.  "  Is  it  real  ?  "  he  asked. 

The  man's  glance  was  fixed  on  the  rapidly  flying 
arms  but  he  nodded  slightly,  as  if  too  intent  to  an 
swer  in  any  other  way.  An  instant  later  the  arms 
stopped,  and  Nick,  snapping  his  hand  to  his  forehead 
in  salute,  sat  down,  his  eyes  dancing. 

"  Fine  work ! "  Mr.  Tregressor  exclaimed. 
"  Fine ! "  Then,  turning  to  the  sheepish  patrol 
leader  he  decoded  the  message.  "  '  Signal,'  "  he 


36  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

snapped ;  "  *  Don't  boast  until  you  can  make 
good!'" 

"  I'm  it,"  announced  Jim,  heartily.  "  That  cer 
tainly  was  shooting  it  some,  Nick.  You  put  it  all 
over  me." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  he  was  talking  with  his 
arms  ?  •"  asked  Dick.  "  Did  all  that  Indian  club  bus 
iness  mean  something  to  you  people?  " 

"  It  certainly  did  to  Mr.  Tregressor  and  it  should 
have  to  the  rest  of  us,"  confessed  Jim,  "  only  it  came 
a  bit  too  fast.  That  was  really  flag  signaling,  only 
Nick  did  it  with  his  arms,  instead  of  flags." 

"Who  taught  him?" 

"  Mr.  Tregressor.  Nick's  specializing  in  signal 
ing  now,  so's  to  get  the  Scout  merit  badge  for  it. 
It's  only  one  of  the  thirty  or  forty  phases  of  real 
Scouting." 

"  What  are  some  of  the  others?  " 

"  Woodcraft,  scholarship,  civics,  first  aid,  life- 
saving,  mechanics,  athletics." 

"Hold  on,"  begged  Dick.  "You  lads  haven't 
learned  all  about  all  those  things." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  37 

"  'Course  we  haven't.  But  we  may  in  time. 
Each  one  of  us  specializes." 

"  That  signal  stuff  appeals  to  me,"  confessed  Dick. 
"  A  couple  of  fellows  could  have  a  lot  of  fun  with 
that." 

"  It  might  come  in  very  useful  some  time,  too," 
threw  in  Mr.  Tregressor ;  "  most  things  Scouts  learn 
have  a  way  of  coming  in  handy  at  unexpected  mo 
ments.  You  could  pick  it  up  very  quickly,  Dick. 
But,  after  all,  it's  a  very  minor  phase  of  real  Scout 
ing;  it's  only  one  little  strand  in  the  big  rope  which 
means  '  Be  Prepared.' ' 

"  I  guess  it's  about  all  I'd  have  time  for,  if  I  went 
into  the  thing,"  mused  the  boy.  "  Honestly,  seeing 
Nick  do  that  makes  me  jealous!  " 

"  I'll  be  glad  to  teach  you  what  I  know,"  offered 
Nick,  suddenly  modest.  "  It's  not  very  hard,  or  I'd 
never  have  learned  it.  I'm  ivory  above  the  eye 
brows." 

"  He  isn't  boasting  now,"  chuckled  Jimmie. 

Nick  glared  at  him.  Dick,  who  had  known  the 
hot-headed  youngster  all  his  life,  expected  an  out- 


38  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

burst.  But,  instead,  Nick  winked  solemnly.  "  He 
hasn't  learned  that  there's  a  merit  badge  for  '  Safety 
First '  or  he'd  never  have  risked  that.  But,  seri 
ously,  Scouting  has  helped  me  to  quit  boast- 
ing." 

"  It  seems  to  do  all  sorts  of  things,"  exclaimed 
Dick.  "  There  must  be  something  behind  what  you 
fellows  have  said,  though.  Suppose  you  let  Mr. 
Tregressor  talk.  If  I  couldn't  go  in  for  it,  maybe 
you'd  let  Nelson  have  a  chance.  The  kid  needs  just 
this  sort  of  thing." 

"  I'll  be  glad  to  tell  you  all  I  can,"  agreed  Mr. 
Tregressor,  and  straightway  began  a  brief  account 
of  how  General  Baden  Powell  founded  the  Boy 
Scouts  and  how  the  movement  spread  to  America, 
grew  and  flourished.  Then  he  described  the  organ 
ization  and  aim  of  the  Scouts  and  told  of  the  Scout 
Law  and  object  and,  above  all  else,  how  every  Scout 
thinks  of  others  before  he  thinks  of  himself  and 
tries  so  to  shape  his  life  that  he  can  look  every  man 
and  boy  squarely  in  the  eye.  "  And,"  he  concluded, 
"  if  there  ever  was  a  boy  who  wouldn't  have  to 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  39 

change  his  ways  in  order  to  live  up  to  our  ideals, 
it's  you,  Dick  Hall.     We  need  you." 

For  a  long  minute  there  was  silence  and  the  five 
watched  the  set  and  crimson  face  of  the  boy  they 
hoped  would  give  them  his  aid.  Dick's  mind  was 
turning  over  many  things,  and,  now  and  then,  his 
teeth  closed  on  his  under  lip.  At  last  he  looked  up 
and  his  eyes  met  the  steady  gaze  of  Mr.  Tregressor. 
"  If  I  can  be  of  any  use  to  any  one,"  he  said  slowly, 
"  I  don't  see  how  I  could  honestly  refuse  to  do  my 

"  Then  you'll  come  in  and  organize  a  patrol  of 
part." 
your  own  ?  " 

"  I'll  do  my  best,  Jim." 

"  Wow !  "  triumphed  Nick  Root.  "  This  is  where 
we  four  have  done  one  good  deed  for  to-day." 


CHAPTER  III 

SOMETHING   IS   STOLEN 

As  Dick  went  home  that  night,  his  mind  was  bus 
ier  with  this  strange  signaling  of  which  Nick,  notori 
ously  the  laziest  boy  in  the  crowd,  had  proved  him 
self  master,  than  with  the  more  important  features 
of  Scouting.  It  had  touched  some  chord  within 
him ;  he  wanted  to  learn  the  code  Nick  had  so  val 
iantly  tried  to  explain.  But,  later,  came  a  different 
feeling,  almost  a  sensation  of  guilt  at  having  impul 
sively  given  his  word  to  undertake  something  which 
was  bound  to  make  grave  inroads  into  the  time  he 
gave  to  his  home.  But,  before  he  had  a  chance  to 
become  confused  in  his  thoughts,  his  father  wormed 
the  whole  story  from  him,  and,  to  Dick's  vast  relief, 
was  enthusiastic  in  his  approval  and  the  boy  began 
to  study  the  flags  that  very  night. 

His  father's  endorsement  gave  the  spur  needed  to 
overcome  his  innate  modesty  about  approaching 

40 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS  41 

others  with  a  proposition  already  growing  close  to 
his  heart.  And,  although  his  manner  was  strangely 
diffident  when  he  began  to  talk  with  Ted  Knight  and 
Bud  Carter,  two  of  the  fellows  Mr.  Tregressor  had 
asked  him  to  see,  his  enthusiasm  soon  overcame  his 
discomfort,  and,  "  playing  up  "  the  advantages  and 
fun  they  all  might  have  after  learning  the  code,  he 
won  them  over,  not  only  to  that,  but  to  the  greater 
thing  —  that  Scouting  offered  a  background  against 
which  character  might  be  built. 

Together  they  went  to  the  fourth  boy,  but  in  Billy 
Defoe  they  met  a  tartar.  Try  as  they  would  they 
could  not  make  him  take  their  arguments  seriously. 
"  I'll  do  most  anything  for  you  fellows,"  he  offered, 
"  but  I  want  something  with  more  kick  than  this. 
Besides,  I'm  not  geen  on  Tregressor.  First  thing  I 
knew,  he'd  want  me  to  lay  off  having  any  fun." 

They  tried  him  three  or  four  times,  for  he  was  far 
from  being  as  unreasonable  as  he  made  himself  out, 
and  they  all  liked  him.  But  when  the  others  gave 
up  in  despair,  Dick  became  the  more  determined 
to  succeed. 


42  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

The  problem  became  so  interesting  that  he  not 
only  talked  it  over  with  Mr.  Tregressor,  but  began 
to  try  out  his  arguments  on  Scott,  and  Jim,  always 
ready  to  discuss  any  topic  on  earth,  entered  into 
the  spirit  of  the  debate,  and,  as  he  worked,  seemed 
to  enjoy  thoroughly  trying  to  tangle  the  boy  in  his 
explanations  and  confuse  him  in  his  statements. 

It  became  almost  a  game,  and  they  were  at  it 
in  full  swing  one  afternoon,  their  tongues  going 
at  the  same  time,  although  their  eyes  and  fingers 
were  busy  with  their  work.  It  was  because  of  this 
that  the  usually  alert  Scott  did  not  notice  that  quick 
ened  atmosphere  which  discloses  the  presence  of  one 
of  the  powers-that-be  in  every  mill. 

Down  the  aisle  came  a  man  of  about  thirty-five, 
his  step  neither  fast  nor  slow,  his  eyes  never  still. 
The  older  workmen  nodded  gravely  as  he  passed 
and  in  their  greeting  was  both  respect  and  a  frank 
show  of  friendliness.  But  the  newer  men  bent 
further  over  their  work,  as  if  to  impress  him  with 
their  industry,  and  it  was  on  one  of  them  that  his 
keen,  all-seeing  glance  rested  longest. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  43 

With  only  an  occasional  stop  to  examine  some 
piece  of  work,  he  came  on,  until  directly  behind  the 
chattering  pair.  A  quick  frown  flashed  across  his 
high  forehead  as  he  caught  snatches  of  their  conver 
sation  and  became  aware  that  it  was  entirely  foreign 
to  the  factory.  His  head  turned,  as  if  looking  for 
Weinberg,  the  foreman,  but  the  next  moment 
he  stepped  forward,  and  touched  Dick  on  the 
arm. 

"  Let's  see  that  frame  you're  working  on,  Hall," 
he  said,  in  an  absolutely  emotionless  voice. 

Dick  jumped  at  the  touch,  turned,  and,  when  he 
recognized  the  younger  Mr.  Kendall,  nodded 
brightly.  Almost  in  one  motion,  he  drew  it  across 
his  apron  to  remove  the  last  trace  of  oil,  and  held 
it  out.  "  It's  nice  steel,"  he  volunteered,  "  and 
they're  cutting  so  clean  on  the  machines  now  that 
it  makes  it  easy  for  us." 

"Yes?"  Mr.  Kendall  ran  his  eyes,  then  his  rin 
gers,  across  the  clean-cut  angles  and  openings. 
"  Don't  let  familiarity  make  you  careless.  You've 
got  to  have  your  mind  on  your  work.  Take  that 


44  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

piece  in  and  leave  it  on  the  foreman's  desk  on  your 
way  home  to-night." 

This  time  the  boy's  face  flushed.  "  That's  not 
necessarily  a  complaint,  Hall,"  Mr.  Kendall  said, 
with  the  trace  of  a  smile.  "  Remember,  there  are 
better  jobs  than  this  one."  He  turned  abruptly  and 
picked  a  piece  from  Scott's  tray.  "  There's  an  edge 
which  will  not  pass  inspection,"  he  announced. 
"  How  long  have  you  been  here  ?  " 

"  Month." 

"  Is  that  all  you've  learned  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Kendall, 
his  eyes  meeting  Scott's. 

"  Do  you  mean  you're  not  satisfied  with  results," 
the  man  demanded  in  so  calm  a  tone  that  Dick  looked 
up  in  wonderment. 

"  I  didn't  say  that.  I'll  give  you  a  bit  of  friendly 
advice,  too:  Don't  overlook  too  many  little 
things." 

"  You  needn't  worry,"  retorted  Scott  indiffer 
ently.  "  When  I  finish  a  job,  your  inspectors  won't 
have  to  go  over  my  work."  With  that  he  ex 
tended  his  hand  for  the  frame  Mr.  Kendall  still 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  45 

balanced  in  his  fingers,  and,  to  Dick's  added  amaze 
ment,  dropped  it  back  in  the  tray  for  finished  work. 
For  a  moment,  the  boy  expected  an  explosion,  but, 
instead  Mr.  Kendall  nodded  once  more,  and  started 
on  down  the  room. 

But  before  he  had  taken  a  dozen  steps,  he  wheeled 
and  came  back.  "  By  the  way,  Hall,"  he  said,  "  Mr. 
Tregressor  tells  me  he's  succeeded  in  interesting  you 
in  his  work  amongst  the  youngsters  in  town.  If 
any  of  them  should  ask  you,  tell  them  I'm  behind 
it.  It's  a  fine  influence.  Get  Scott  into  it." 

"  Guess  that's  what  I  was  really  trying  to  do," 
confessed  Dick. 

"  Keep  it  up, —  outside  shop  hours,"  advised  the 
man,  and,  this  time,  went  on  through  the  door  with 
out  stopping  at  Weinberg's  office  in  the  corner. 

For  perhaps  three  minutes,  Dick  worked  in 
silence,  then  his  feelings  got  the  better  of  him. 
"Jim,"  he  asked,  "was  that  meant  for  a  call?  " 

"What?" 

"  Was  the  boss  trimming  us  for  talking  too 
much?" 


46  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  He  wasn't  trimming  you,"  he  growled ;  "  get 
back  on  the  job.  I've  got  troubles  of  my  own." 

For  the  next  hour  Scott  would  not  reply  even  to 
the  most  casual  remark,  nor  could  Dick  imagine 
what  was  the  trouble.  Certainly  he  could  see  little 
in  what  Mr.  Kendall  had  said  to  make  the  man  sulk 
so  openly.  But  if  he  had  been  able  to  read  what 
was  going  on  in  Jim  Scott's  active  brain,  he  would 
have  thought  of  him  as  anything  but  a  sulker. 

From  time  to  time,  he  was  vaguely  conscious  that 
Scott  was  watching  the  door  of  the  foreman's 
cubby-hole  room,  and,  whenever  Weinberg  came  out 
on  his  frequent  tours  of  inspection,  he  thought  that 
Jim's  eyes  followed  Weinberg's  progress  more 
closely  than  his  file  followed  his  work.  He  knew 
that  his  friend  hated  the  big  foreman,  for  he  never 
missed  a  chance  to  anger  him,  and,  once  or  twice, 
Dick  had  been  afraid  their  clashes  would  result  in 
Jim's  instantaneous  discharge,  for  Weinberg  was 
short  of  patience  and  over-proud  of  his  authority. 

It  was  close  to  five  o'clock  when  Scott  saw  Wein 
berg,  on  his  final  rounds  for  the  day,  approaching 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  47 

with  all  the  air  of  a  Roman  emperor  inspecting  his 
slaves.  He  bent  low  over  his  bench,  but,  just  as 
the  foreman  was  behind  him,  he  lifted  the  pistol 
frame  he  held  and  patted  it  tenderly.  "  The  only 
thing  that's  keeping  me  on  this  bum  job,"  he  an 
nounced  to  Dick,  "  is  the  hope  that  every  gun  I  help 
make'll  kill  fifty  Huns." 

The  even  step  behind  him  never  changed.  "  Wish 
they'd  start  a  night  shift  so  we'd  turn  out  more," 
he  said. 

Weinberg  stopped.  "If  Kendall  methods  do  not 
please,"  he  snapped,  "  you  know  what  you  may  do." 

"  Sure!  But  I'm  waiting  for  the  old  U.  S.  to  go 
in.  I'd  rather  kill  mine  under  my  own  flag,  wouldn't 
you?  Oh,  I  forgot!  You're  a  German,  aren't 
you,"  he  said  with  a  rasping  laugh. 

"  I  am  American  and  — " 

"  Then  don't  get  hot  under  the  collar,"  advised 
Scott  carelessly.  "  No  one's  trying  to  start  a  race 
riot,  me  least  of  all.  Only  I  do  hope  I'm  going  to 
live  to  jab  a  bayonet  at  a  Hun." 

Weinberg  was  controlling  himself  with  increasing 


48  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

difficulty.  He  wanted  an  outlet  for  his  temper  and 
he  looked  about  for  an  excuse.  At  that  moment 
Dick  snapped  the  file  with  which  he  was  working. 
"  Ach !  "  exploded  the  foreman.  "  Always  care 
less.  It  shall  be  stopped  from  your  pay." 

The  injustice  left  the  boy  speechless.  It  was 
an  accident  that  was  all  in  the  day's  work.  How 
ever,  Dick  knew  that  not  only  was  the  man  furious 
but  that  he  had  borne  a  grudge  against  him  ever 
since  Tom  Hall  had  openly  protested  to  the  Ken 
dalls  against  the  man's  appointment  to  his  old  fore- 
manship.  Nor  had  Dick's  own  thoroughness  in 
thrashing  Weinberg's  big  son  Oscar,  for  bullying 
small  boys,  added  to  the  foreman's  love. 

Tempted  now  to  protest  against  injustice,  it  was 
Scott's  scarcely  breathed  "Easy!"  which  calmed 
him  quicker  than  any  warning  he  had  ever  re 
ceived  and  he  picked  up  another  file  with  a  low- 
spoken  "  All  right,  sir." 

His  docility  gave  the  foreman  an  even  greater 
sense  of  authority.  "  Of  carelessness  from  you  we 
have  had  sufficient,"  he  said,  in  his  stern,  precise 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  49 

English.  "  I  will  not  have  careless  boys  in  my  de 
partment.  Before,  I  have  warned  you.  I  warn  not 
a  third  time.  You  are  a  disturbing  force  here." 

This  time  it  was  Dick  who  gave  the  warning,  for 
he  saw  Scott's  feet  shift  and  the  muscles  in  his 
arms  twitch.  Some  sixth  sense  came  to  Wein- 
berg's  rescue  and  told  him  that  he  had  gone  far 
enough.  With  a  low  growl,  he  wheeled  about  and 
walked  away,  his  chin  in  the  air. 

"  For  a  real  '  American,'  he  stood  a  good  deal," 
observed  Jim  with  a  grin.  "  He's  got  mighty  good 
self-control,  blast  him !  " 

"  I  shouldn't  think  he  had  any." 

"  You  and  I  never  seem  to  agree.  When  are  you 
going  to  take  Kendall's  advice  and  start  missionary 
work  on  me?  " 

"  Not  in  working  hours,"  declared  Dick  fervently. 
"  My  job  looks  good  to  me,  even  if  I  haven't  the 
strangle  hold  on  it  I  thought  I  had." 

"  Sorry  I  got  Weinberg  down  on  you ;  didn't 
mean  to  do  that." 

"  'S  all  right,  Jim.     He's  been  looking   for  a 


50  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

chance  to  get  me  for  months.  He's  equally  sore 
at  you." 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,  young  fellow ;  my  eye 
teeth  came  through  my  gums  years  ago.  I  never 
keep  a  job  long  anywhere."  With  that  he  picked  up 
his  tools,  and,  whistling  between  his  teeth,  went  to 
work. 

But  the  incident  had  made  the  boy  uneasy  and  it 
was  hard  for  him  to  concentrate  his  attention  on  his 
task  again.  Whenever  his  eyes  wandered,  he  saw 
Scott  bent  over  his  bench  and  it  came  as  an  even 
greater  surprise  when  he  caught  the  low-uttered  ex 
clamation  of  satisfaction  and  heard  Scott's  tools 
clatter  into  the  drawer.  "  What's  up  ?  "  he  de 
manded. 

"  Going  to  call  it  a  day." 

"  It's  only  5  130,  Jim." 

"  Guess  that  clock's  wrong." 

"ButWeinberg?" 

"  Just  gone  out  with  Schwartz." 

"  What's  Schwartz  doing  up  here  ?  " 

"  Search  me !     Maybe  they're  going  to  have  a 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  51 

loyal  Americans  meeting  to-night;  maybe  he  just 
wanted  to  gossip  with  his  pal." 

"  But  Schwartz  never  comes  up  here,"  said  the 
boy  thoughtfully.  "  The  tempering  room  crowd  say 
he's  always  picking  on  them." 

"  Maybe  he's  going  there  to  pick  some  more,"  re 
torted  Jim  with  a  shrug ;  "  that's  their  worry.  Good 
night."  He  slammed  the  drawer  closed  and  hur 
ried  toward  the  exit  through  which  the  two  foremen 
had  disappeared. 

His  effrontery  in  following  them  astounded  the 
boy.  It  was  adding  needless  risk  to  the  big  one  he 
took.  He  did  not  want  Jim  to  lose  his  job,  espe 
cially  for  a  breach  of  shop  rules.  He  was  worried, 
but  he  tried  to  drown  his  worry  in  his  work  and  to 
confine  his  speculations  as  to  why  Mr.  Kendall 
had  ordered  him  to  take  that  frame  to  Weinberg's 
room. 

He  was  examining  it  for  the  third  time  when  some 
presentiment  caused  him  to  look  round.  His  jaw 
dropped  and  his  eyes  grew  wide.  Scott  was  going 
into  Weinberg's  office.  He  must  have  met  the  fore- 


52  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

man  on  the  stairs  and  have  been  ordered  back  to 
await  the  foreman's  wrath. 

It  made  Dick  almost  sick  to  think  of  Jim  dis 
graced,  and  every  few  seconds  he  turned  to  look 
for  the  coming  of  the  foreman.  But,  inside  of 
three  minutes,  Scott  came  out  of  the  office  as  casu 
ally  as  he  had  entered,  and  Dick,  seeing  him  stroll 
down  the  other  stairway,  gave  a  great  sigh  of  relief. 
It  was  evident  that  Jim  had  been  sent  into  the  closely 
guarded  room  on  some  errand. 

As  is  always  the  case,  he  found  that  worrying  over 
another's  trouble  had  added  to  his  own.  When  the 
whistle  blew,  he  was  nearly  a  full  piece  behind  his 
schedule.  Thinking  he  could  catch  up  in  five  extra 
minutes,  he  went  at  his  filing  like  an  angry  bee.  It 
took  longer  than  he  had  expected,  and  when  he  came 
to  put  his  things  away  he  found  the  shop  deserted. 
Grabbing  die  frame  Mr.  Kendall  had  referred  to,  he 
started  on  the  run  for  the  foreman's  office.  Open 
ing  the  door,  he  darted  in,  laid  the  piece  on  the 
desk  and  started  out  again  at  full  speed  but,  as  he 
turned  the  corner,  a  big  arm  barred  his  way. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  53 

"  What  were  you  doing  in  my  room?  "  demanded 
Weinberg. 

"  Mr.  Kendall  ordered  me  to  leave  a  frame  there." 

"Why?" 

"  He  didn't  tell  me  that.  Supposed  he  explained 
to  you." 

"  Urn !    Where  did  you  put  it  ?  " 

"  On  your  desk." 

"So!     Goodnight." 

Hardly  had  Dick  gotten  into  the  swing  of  his 
work  the  next  morning  before  one  of  the  helpers 
ran  up  to  him.  "  Old  Weinberg  wants  you  in  his 
office,"  he  announced  breathlessly,  "  and,  believe 
me,  he's  some  ugly." 

"  All  right."  He  put  down  his  file,  but  as  he 
turned  from  his  bench,  Scott  looked  up. 

"  Don't  let  him  bluff  you  into  anything,"  he  ad 
vised. 

"  Don't  worry  about  me."  In  spite  of  his  non 
chalance,  however,  Dick  began  to  worry  a  little 
about  himself.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  been 
summoned  into  that  room.  Weinberg  made  it  a 


54  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

point  to  see  his  men  at  their  work,  unless  it  was 
something  unusually  important. 

As  Dick  went  into  the  office,  the  big  foreman 
turned  slowly  in  the  chair  before  the  desk.  "  Close 
the  door,"  he  ordered.  "  Come  over  here  and  stand 
where  I  can  see  your  face."  For  a  long  moment  he 
studied  the  boy's  features  through  half -closed  eyes, 
then,  resting  a  hand  on  each  knee,  he  shot  forward 
his  bullet-shaped  head.  "  So  you  are  the  thief,"  he 
announced,  his  voice  booming  like  a  gun. 

"Thief!  What  are  you  talking  about?"  Dick 
was  so  astonished  that  his  voice  broke. 

The  foreman,  quick  to  take  this  as  a  sign  of 
weakness,  was  as  quick  to  change  his  whole  man 
ner.  Aggressive  brutality  faded  into  sly  cunning 
and  a  sneering  smile  spread  across  the  thick  lips. 
"  So !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  It  was  that  you  thought 
old  Weinberg  a  sleeping  oaf  ?  That  which  you  stole 
from  this  desk  last  night,  put  back." 

The  boy's  face  was  white  with  an  indignation 
which  shook  every  fiber  in  his  body.  "  I'm  no 
thief,"  he  cried. 


I'M    NO    THIEF 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  55 

Weinberg's  head  moved  in  well-assumed  sorrow. 
"Is  it  that  you  take  me  to  be  simple?  Is  it  that 
you  forget  that  I  caught  you  here  and  that  your  ex 
cuse  for  being  here  was  as  stupid  as  you  think  I  am 
stupid  ? "  He  straightened,  and,  shaking  a  finger 
close  to  the  boy's  face,  said,  "  There  is  nothing  which 
you  can  gain  by  lying.  You  were  in  here ;  you  stole ; 
you  are  the  only  one  who  came  in  here;  none  of 
my  men  come  here  unless  ordered  by  me." 

"  But  Mr.  Kendall  himself  ordered  me  here." 

"  Was  it  that  he,  too,  ordered  you  to  steal  from 
my  desk  ?  Some  one  came  in  here ;  some  one  stole ; 
you  are  the  one  who  was  here ;  you  are  the  thief." 

Dick,  in  spite  of  the  shock  and  of  his  anger  at 
being  accused  of  dishonesty,  tried  to  calm  himself  so 
that  he  might  think  clearly.  Then,  in  a  flash,  came 
remembrance  of  Scott's  visit  to  this  same  room.  If 
a  theft  had  been  committed,  Scott  was  the  thief. 
The  knowledge  sickened  him.  He  could  not  believe 
that  the  man  whom  he  had  accepted  as  a  friend  had 
proved  dishonest.  The  thought  drove  his  own  pre 
dicament  from  his  mind  and  all  his  loyalty  asserted 


56  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

itself.  No  matter  how  circumstances  might  point  an 
incriminating  finger,  he  would  no  more  believe  evil 
of  Jim  Scott  than  he  would  of  himself. 

"  Come,"  said  the  foreman,  in  an  insinuating 
tone,  strangely  out  of  keeping  with  the  aggressive 
poise  of  his  body ;  "  restore  that  which  you  took  and 
I  will  be  the  strong  man  with  the  weakling.  You 
shall  have  one  more  chance,  not  because  I  believe 
you  to  be  honest,  but  because  I  am  generous.  It 
was  you  who  abused  my  son;  I  will  return  good 
for  evil." 

"  I  don't  want  generosity,"  declared  the  boy,  "  I 
want  justice.  I'm  going  to  have  it." 

"  So !  Who  are  you  to  say  what  you  will  have 
and  what  you  will  not  have?  You  will  have  that 
which  I  am  pleased  to  give  you.  You  will  return 
that  which  you  stole  within  one  hour,  or  it  shall  be 
known  that  you  are  a  thief." 

"  But  I've  taken  nothing.  I  don't  even  know  what 
you've  lost." 

"  Do  not  add  lies  to  the  theft.  If  you  did  not 
take  it,  you  know  who  did.  It  is  for  you  to  return 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  57 

it.  If  it  is  not  within  my  hand  within  the  hour, 
you  go  to  Mr.  Kendall  as  a  thief  and  tell  him  that  no 
boy  who  is  dishonest  works  under  me.  But  to  me 
you  shall  return  that  which  you  stole.  My  word  is 
good." 


CHAPTER  IV 

BACK    FROM    THE   FRONT 

DICK  went  out  of  that  office  in  a  daze.  Never 
before  had  his  honesty  been  questioned;  never  had 
anyone  dared  doubt  his  word.  Vaguely,  he  began  to 
realize  how  desperate  was  his  plight,  to  grasp  the  full 
scope  of  the  plot  the  crafty  foreman  had  sprung. 
Try  as  he  would,  he  could  see  no  way  out.  Even  if 
he  found,  and  returned  that  mysterious  thing  which 
had  been  stolen,  he  would  still  be  held  guilty.  He 
could  see  no  way  of  proving  his  innocence. 

But,  slowly,  the  courage  which  had  kept  him  fight 
ing  for  the  past  two  years  began  to  return,  and,  with 
it  came  the  remembrance  that  friendship  was  the 
greatest  thing  in  the  world.  All  that  he  had  to  do 
was  to  tell  Jim  Scott  the  whole  story  and  his  friend 
would  find  some  way  to  clear  him.  For,  even  now 
he  would  not  believe  that  Jim  could  really  be  guilty. 

His  step  became  more  firm  as  he  hurried  past  busy 

58 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS  59 

workmen  and  whirring  machines.  To  his  relief,  Jim 
was  watching  for  his  return.  "  What's  up  ?  "  he 
asked,  with  a  smile  which  was  far  different  from  the 
expression  on  the  boy's  face. 

"  Someone  stole  something  out  of  Weinberg's  of 
fice  last  night.  He's  accused  me  and  given  me  an 
hour  to  return  it." 

Scott  raised  his  eyebrows.  "  And  if  you  don't 
make  good  ? " 

"  I'm  fired  for  being  a  thief." 

"  Didn't  swipe  it,  did  you  ?  " 

"  You  know  I  didn't." 

"  Then  what  you  goin'  to  do  about  it?  " 

"  Don't  know.  Thought  I'd  like  to  talk  it  over 
with  you.  Thought  you  might  see  some  way  out." 

Scott's  eyes  met  the  lad's  squarely.  "  You  don't 
think  I'm  the  thief,  do  you?"  he  asked  in  a  calm 
voice. 

Dick's  teeth  closed  over  his  lower  lip.  "  Jim,"  he 
said  with  an  effort,  "  I  don't  know  what's  been 
taken,  or  who  took  it,  but  you've  always  played  the 
game  with  me  and  I'm  going  to  with  you.  I  saw 


60  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

you  go  into  that  room  last  night  when  Weinberg 
was  out.  I  was  the  last  person  to  leave  this  shop 
and  no  one  went  into  the  office  but  you.  He  claims 
that  whatever  was  taken,  was  taken  then.  I  know  I 
didn't  take  anything." 

"  But  you're  mighty  sure  I  did,"  retorted  Scott 
coldly. 

"  I'm  nothing  of  the  sort,"  answered  Dick.  "  I'm 
only  telling  you  what  I  know  about  what  hap 
pened.  I'm  not  accusing  you  of  anything;  I'm 
not  asking  you  to  tell  me  anything;  I'm  only 
talking  to  you  as  I'd  expect  you  to  talk  to 
me." 

"  And  you're  hoping  I'll  go  to  Weinberg  and  give 
it  back." 

"  I  know  that  you'll  do  the  square  thing,  if  you 
know  anything  about  it." 

"  Did  you  tell  Weinberg  that  you  saw  me  go  in 
there?" 

"  Course  not." 

"  And  you're  the  only  one  he  suspects  ?  " 

"  Yes." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  61 

"Then,"  announced  Scott  calmly,  "you'll  have 
to  take  your  medicine." 

Dick  gasped.  All  his  hopes  went  glimmering, 
and  with  them  his  belief  in  human  nature.  With 
out  a  word  he  took  off  his  apron  and  put  his  tools  in 
the  drawer.  "  I'd  rather  counted  on  you,"  he 
gulped.  "  I'll  have  to  fight  this  out  alone,  now. 
But  don't  you  think  I  won't  win  out.  And  you 
needn't  worry  about  my  giving  you  away." 

"  It's  because  I  have  taken  the  trouble  to  know 
you  that  I'm  sure  you  won't,"  Scott  muttered  under 
his  breath.  "  Also,  you  may  find  that  I'm  not  such 
a  bad  friend  as  you  suppose,"  he  added,  as  the  boy 
walked  away. 

Dick's  steps  dragged  as  he  went  to  the  locker  room 
in  the  basement.  His  one  idea  was  to  get  away 
where  he  could  be  alone  and  think.  He  realized  the 
factory  would  be  an  utterly  impossible  place  for  him 
if  others  thought  him  a  thief,  and  he  knew  Wein- 
berg  well  enough  to  be  certain  he  would  not  keep 
the  charge  to  himself.  He  had  hoped  to  work  for 
the  Kendalls  all  his  life,  to  make  himself  invaluable 


62  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

to  them,  even  to  win  a  place  in  the  office  some  day 
and  be  Stephen  Kendall's  right  hand  man.  Now 
that  was  all  ended.  He  would  have  to  find  other 
work  and  it  would  have  to  be  far  from  Kendall- 
ville. 

As  he  put  on  his  coat,  another  feeling  came  over 
him.  It  was  here  he  had  done  his  first  work, 
earned  his  first  dollar,  played  his  part  among  men. 
The  very  thought  of  leaving  the  noise,  the  smell  of 
oily  steel,  the  friendly  workmen,  made  him  home 
sick.  Then,  too,  there  was  Mr.  Kendall,  who,  in 
his  aloof  way,  had  been  his  friend.  The  desire  to 
thank  him  for  having  given  him  his  first  chance 
became  too  strong  to  be  resisted,  and,  without  con 
sidering  that  he  had  been  ordered  to  report  to  him, 
he  started  for  the  main  offices. 

Too  absorbed  in  his  troubles  to  look  about,  he  did 
not  see  Jim  Scott  coming  out  of  the  separate  build 
ing  in  the  south  corner  of  the  factory  yard.  But  it 
was  apparent  that  Scott  was  not  so  blind.  He 
turned  sharply  and  ran  into  the  factory  through  the 
engine  room. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  63 

As  Dick  came  into  the  office  he  felt  as  if  every 
book-keeper  was  looking  at  him  and  saying, 
"  There's  a  thief.  Look  at  that  thief,  Dick  Hall !  " 
He  almost  jumped  when  Jimmie  Farnsworth  ran 
up  with  a  cheery,  "  Hello !  Come  over  to  see  if 
we've  a  vacant  foremanship  on  the  new  night  shift 
for  you  ?  " 

"Night  shift?"  repeated  Dick  absently. 

"  Surest  thing  you  know !  Begins  work  as  soon 
as  we  can  get  the  hands.  War's  making  the  busi 
ness  boom." 

"  Is  Mr.  Stephen  busy,  Jim?  " 

"  No,"  chuckled  the  youngster,  "  no.  He  doesn't 
do  a  thing  but  sit  round  and  read  the  newspapers. 
Want  to  get  him  to  go  skating  with  you  ?  " 

"  I'd  like  to  see  him  a  minute,  if  I  could." 

"  Well,  seeing  you're  a  pal  and  a  Scout,  I'll  take 
a  chance,"  agreed  Jimmie  and  dashed  through  the 
swinging  gate  toward  the  private  office  in  the  corner. 

He  came  back  at  full  speed.  "  Caught  him,"  he 
panted;  "go  right  in,  but  make  it  short.  We're 
busy  over  here." 


64  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Ordinarily,  Jimmie's  assumption  of  equality  with 
the  owners  would  have  amused  Dick,  for  he  had 
not  had  experience  enough  in  the  office  to  appreciate 
that  one  of  Stephen  Kendall's  new  ideas  was  to  make 
his  people  feel  that  they  were  as  much  a  part  of  the 
Kendall  Arms  Company  as  his  father  or  himself. 
But  he  went  on  without  more  than  a  word  of 
thanks. 

Mr.  Kendall  glanced  up  from  a  sheaf  of  papers 
spread  on  the  desk  before  him.  "What  is  it?" 
he  asked. 

There  was  a  strange  friendliness  in  the  usually 
crisp  voice  which  confused  the  lad.  All  at  once  he 
seemed  to  see  the  human  side  of  this  strong,  self- 
contained  man.  There  was  a  light  in  the  depths 
of  the  usually  cold  eyes  which  was  somehow  dif 
ferent,  which  made  Dick  suddenly  understand  why 
the  men  who  had  grown  up  with  Steve  Kendall 
were  ready  to  follow  him  blindly.  The  remem 
brance  of  his  errand  brought  a  sharp  stab  to 
his  heart,  but  he  gritted  his  teeth  and  stepped  for 
ward. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  65 

"  I've  come  to  thank  you  for  all  you've  done  for 
me,"  he  blurted. 

"Got  a  better  job?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Not  dissatisfied  with  us  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Think  you  ought  to  be  paid  more  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Care  to  tell  me  the  trouble,  Dick?  " 

The  unexpected  use  of  his  Christian  name  brought 
a  lump  into  his  throat.  The  keen  blue  eyes  did  not 
leave  his  face  for  an  instant,  and  Mr.  Kendall  saw 
that  the  youngster's  burden  was  far  too  heavy  for 
his  shoulders  long  before  Dick  realized  how  desper 
ately  close  he  was  to  breaking. 

"  Just  give  that  door  a  push.  The  noise  bothers 
me  this  morning.  Been  working  hard  over  these 
new  contracts  and  my  nerves  are  jumpy.  Now," 
he  went  on,  in  the  same  easy  voice,  "  let's  have  the 
whole  story." 

Haltingly,  at  first,  then  with  a  rush,  Dick  poured 
out  the  tale  and  the  man  allowed  him  to  finish  with- 


66  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

out  interruption.  "  So,"  he  announced  with  a  gulp, 
"  I've  got  to  go." 

"I  don't  see  it  in  that  light,"  stated  Mr.  Ken 
dall  promptly. 

"  Wha  —  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  if  someone  had  accused  me  of  do 
ing  something  crooked,  and  if  my  conscience  was 
clear,  I'd  everlastingly  stick  and  fight.  You  were 
saying  something  like  that  to  Scott  only  yesterday. 
Why  don't  you  practice  what  you  preach  ?  " 

"  But  how  can  I  ?     Weinberg  would  fire  me." 

"  As  long  as  I  was  the  one  who  gave  you  that 
job,  I  think  I'll  be  the  one  to  take  it  away,  when 
the  time  comes." 

"  Do  you  mean  it?    Do  you  really  mean  it?  " 

The  man  rose,  and,  coming  round  the  corner  of 
the  desk,  put  his  hand  on  the  boy's  heaving  shoulder. 
"  I  don't  mean  it  in  the  way  you  think,"  he  said 
kindly.  "  I  don't  mean  that  I'll  go  over  the  head  of 
one  of  my  foremen.  That  would  be  fatal  to  our 
whole  organization.  And  I  do  not  want  trouble 
with  Weinberg.  But  there  are  other  ways.  You 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  67 

believe  in  yourself,  but  you've  taken  it  for  granted 
that  others  don't  believe  in  you.  That's  not  true 
modesty.  You've  made  a  good  name  here,  yet 
you're  ready  to  lose  it  without  making  a  fight.  It 
isn't  the  fellow  who  runs  away  who  comes  out  on 
top;  it's  the  man  who  sticks  and  faces  odds  with  a 
smile  and  it  isn't  like  you  to  quit  cold." 

Dick  bit  his  lips.  The  idea  that  anyone  thought 
him  a  coward  hurt  almost  as  much  as  that  anyone 
could  think  him  a  thief.  Yet,  after  all,  wasn't  Mr. 
Kendall  right?  Red  waves  of  shame  surged  up  into 
his  cheeks  and  he  knew  that  Mr.  Kendall  was. 
"  I'll  go  back  and  fight  it  out,"  he  stated  between 
tight-shut  teeth. 

A  strange  smile  flickered  across  the  man's  face. 
"  I  knew  you  had  the  sand,"  he  said,  "  but,  hold  up 
a  minute.  Learn  not  to  jump  at  conclusions,  too. 
I  can't  put  you  back  on  the  old  job  without  forcing 
the  issue  with  Mr.  Weinberg.  If  I'm  to  help  you, 
you  must  help  me.  You'll  have  to  go  on  the  night 
shift  when  it  starts  next  week,  and  I  want  nothing 
said  until  then  about  my  giving  you  the  job." 


68  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  I'd  rather  face  Weinberg,"  admitted  Dick;  "  I'd 
rather  fight  him  in  the  open,  but,"  he  added  gamely, 
"  I'll  do  whatever  you  say." 

"  That's  more  like  it.  The  hardest  part,"  he 
added  with  an  encouraging  pat  on  the  back,  "  will 
be  loafing  till  Monday," 

Dick  appreciated  that  even  before  he  had  left  the 
office;  knew  that  by  walking  out  of  the  factory  he 
had  made  his  first  mistake;  knew  that  Weinberg 
would  jump  at  the  conclusion  that  he  had  admitted 
his  guilt  by  his  act.  But  big,  friendly  Stephen 
Kendall  had  asked  him,  Dick  Hall,  to  help  him  by 
keeping  quiet,  and  while  he  could  not  understand, 
he  would  do  that  as  loyally  as  he  would  fight  for 
himself.  But  the  question  of  how  to  explain  the 
four  days  of  idleness  to  his  father  was  now  the 
burning  problem. 

He  met  it  in  the  only  straightforward,  manly  way 
and  it  drew  the  man  and  boy  even  closer  together, 
for  the  father  understood  on  the  instant  how  any 
breath  of  suspicion  would  seer  his  son  and  he  went 
deeper  than  Stephen  Kendall  had  gone  in  showing 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  69 

him  the  bravery  of  an  honest  fight  against  injustice. 

What  Dick  did  not  know  was  his  father's  anxiety 
over  the  true  cause  for  Weinberg's  accusation.  Nor 
could  he  guess  Weinberg's  object  in  not  telling  the 
boy  what  had  been  stolen.  As  for  Scott's  part  in 
the  affair,  Dick  had  kept  that  to  himself.  None 
should  ever  say  that  he  had  leveled  the  finger  of 
suspicion. 

But  within  twenty-four  hours  he  began  to  feel  the 
full  weight  of  this  same  finger.  If  Weinberg  him 
self  did  not  speak,  he  made  no  effort  to  curb  the  wild 
tongue  of  his  son,  and,  while  many  listened  to  the 
youth's  highly  colored  story  of  Dick's  disgrace,  at 
least  one  did  not.  Of  the  loyalty  of  Billy  Defoe, 
the  Weinberg  cub's  bruised  and  battered  face  bore 
eloquent  testimony. 

The  news  of  this  championship  came  quickly  to 
Dick,  and  while  it  both  comforted  and  cheered,  he 
found  it  took  all  his  courage  to  face  his  friends,  for, 
boylike,  he  was  supersensitive  and  thought  the 
older  men  must  suspect  him  because,  out  of  well 
meant  sympathy,  they  kept  their  true  indignation 


70  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

to  themselves.  If  Mr.  Kendall's  strange  request 
for  silence  had  not  sealed  his  lips  everything  would 
have  been  easier. 

As  for  Jim  Farnsworth,  Nick  Root  and  the  two 
other  youngsters  with  whom  he  had  spent  that  eve 
ning  at  Mr.  Tregressor's,  they  left  no  room  for  him 
to  doubt  their  real  friendship,  and  their  way  of  ex 
pressing  it  had  a  new  effect  on  Defoe.  Unknown  to 
Dick,  Jimmie  had  a  long  talk  with  him.  It  was 
not  until  Dick  chanced  to  meet  Mr.  Tregressor  on 
the  street,  that  he  in  any  way  connected  the  new 
bond  which  had  drawn  all  the  lads  closer,  with  the 
Scouts.  He  had  quite  expected  they  would  drop 
him  now.  The  old  minister's  hearty  command  to 
report  at  his  home  the  following  evening  made  his 
heavy  heart  leap.  Certainly  this  Scouting  was  the 
real  thing. 

He  found  himself  counting  the  hours,  and,  to 
make  them  pass  the  more  quickly,  he  plunged  into 
the  study  of  wig-wagging  and  Scout  law.  It 
pleased  him,  too,  to  discover  that  Carter  and  Knight 
had  received  similar  invitations  from  Mr.  Tregres- 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  71 

sor  and  were  as  nervous  about  them  as  he  had  been 
over  his  first  call. 

Yet,  in  spite  of  their  early  enthusiasm,  it  was  a 
rather  quiet  group  of  boys  who  appeared  at  the 
minister's  home.  Dick  was  astounded  at  Defoe's 
presence,  nor  did  the  lad  offer  any  explanation  for 
his  unexpected  switch  to  the  Scouts.  Carter  and 
Knight,  too,  were  visibly  embarrassed  over  finding 
themselves  in  strange  surroundings  and  the  younger 
lads  were  all  more  or  less  concerned  lest  something 
should  crop  out  which  would  bring  up  the  topic 
of  Dick's  trouble,  the  one  thing  which  was  on  all 
their  minds. 

Mr.  Tregressor,  however,  was  as  clever  at  peek 
ing  beneath  boyhood's  rough  upper  crust  as  he  was 
at  the  lesser  task  of  putting  guests  at  their  ease. 
Even  the  over-conscious  Defoe  found  his  host's 
mood  contagious,  and  was  soon  talking  and  laugh 
ing  with  the  rest,  for  to-night  there  was  a  subtle 
something  about  Mr.  Tregressor  which  made  them 
all  feel  like  putting  their  best  foot  forward.  Every 
once  in  a  while  a  smile  crinkled  the  wrinkled  face 


72  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

and  the  blue  eyes  glowed  with  a  pleasure  the  man 
made  no  attempt  to  conceal. 

"  It's  fine  to  have  all  my  boys  here  again,"  he 
exclaimed,  pushing  a  dish  of  candy  nearer  the  none- 
too-backward  Nick.  "  I'm  delighted  you  three  fel 
lows  have  come,"  he  went  on,  turning  to  Carter,  De 
foe  and  Knight.  "  Dick  was  a  bit  afraid  you 
wouldn't  be  interested  in  the  Scouts,  but  I've  yet 
to  find  the  boy  who  isn't  when  he  knows  their  ob 
ject." 

Bud  Carter  crossed  his  legs  more  comfortably  and 
sank  further  back  in  the  easy  chair.  "  It's  become 
a  habit  to  follow  old  Dick,"  he  acknowledged,  "  and, 
this  time,  this  signaling  stuff  made  a  base  hit  with 
me.  I've  ahvays  had  a  bug  for  the  navy.  I'd  like 
to  get  in  as  a  wireless  operator  and  anything  I  can 
learn  in  that  line  helps." 

"Why  not  take  up  the  real  wireless?  That's  a 
part  of  Scout  work." 

"  Really !     Me  for  it !     When  do  we  begin  ?  " 

"  Where  do  I  come  in?  "  interrupted  Defoe.  "  I 
never  saw  a  ship  and  I'd  get  sea-sick  if  I  did.  I 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  73 

don't  want  any  navy  for  mine.  The  old  drawing 
board  looks  good  to  me,  and,  if  I  can  ever  learn  the 
trade,  I  guess  the  Kendalls  will  give  me  a  chance  in 
the  drafting  room." 

"  You  can  take  that  up  for  a  part  of  your  Scout 
work,  Defoe." 

"  Say !  "  chuckled  Bud.  "  Dick  didn't  tell  us  this 
was  a  high  school.  We  thought  it  was  taking  walks 
and  cooking  dinners  while  you  waved  flags." 

"  I  thought  I'd  tell  you  the  things  you  were 
usually  keen  about,"  admitted  Dick;  "I  knew  the 
rest  would  work  itself  out." 

"  Maybe  it  will,  but  it's  slow  coming.  Let's  get 
started." 

Mr.  Tregressor  was  accustomed  to  boyish  en- 
thusiams,  but  the  eagerness  of  these  lads  to  gain 
knowledge  which  would  be  of  practical  value  pleased 
him  quite  as  much  as  had  Dick's  more  quiet  ac 
ceptance  of  the  ideals  of  Scouting.  He  knew  that 
his  part  was  to  blend  the  two  extremes  and  to  mix 
wisely  the  ideals  with  the  out-of-doors  features,  the 
major  appeal  to  the  less  mature  lads,  to  whom  school 


74  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

and  factory  furnished  almost  as  much  real  study  as 
they  could  assimilate  comfortably. 

For  a  few  minutes  neither  Carter  nor  Defoe  took 
kindly  to  starting  as  Tenderfeet,  but  then  they 
grasped  the  wisdom  of  the  plan  of  organization,  and 
Mr.  Tregressor  was  more  than  pleased  with  their 
whole-hearted  approval  and  knew  that  Dick  had 
chosen  his  first  men  wisely. 

"  It's  going  to  take  some  reading  to  get  up  on 
all  those  things,"  admitted  Defoe,  "  but  I  guess  it 
won't  hurt  me  any.  I've  been  spending  a  whole  lot 
of  time  doing  nothing  in  particular." 

"  When  it  comes  down  to  knowing  the  civil  gov 
ernment  of  this  village,  I  can  at  least  answer  that," 
sighed  Bud;  "just  say  '  Bullet'  and  you've  said  it 
all.  Even  Mr.  Steve  takes  his  orders  from  his 
father.  Say,"  he  exclaimed,  overcome  with  the 
shock  of  an  original  idea,  "  let's  all  go  see  old  Bullet 
about  Dick.  We've  got  an  organization.  He'll 
listen  to  us." 

There  was  a  moment's  sorry  silence  as  Bud  real 
ized  he.  had  crashed  into  forbidden  ground  with  both 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  75 

clumsy  feet.  But,  before  he  could  get  in  deeper, 
Mr.  Tregressor  came  to  his  rescue.  "  You  haven't 
that  sort  of  organization,"  he  said.  "  Of  course  you 
fellows  will  stand  together,  but  you  must  do  it  in  a 
way  which  will  not  interfere  with  each  other's  rights 
as  individuals.  You  must  stand  on  your  own  feet 
to  be  strong  men;  you  must  learn  to  rely  on  your 
own  judgment  and  learn  how  to  form  that  judgment 
correctly.  To  do  that  you  must  know  yourselves. 
You  must  be  self-reliant;  you  must  be  prepared. 
Why,  once  I  knew  a  man  —  But  I'm  not  going  to 
do  all  the  talking,"  he  added  with  a  smile.  "  You 
four  organize  your  new  patrol  over  there  in  the  cor 
ner,  while  I  put  Nick  through  his  signals." 

"Fine!"  agreed  Defoe.  "But  I  can  see  Bud 
organizing  anything  while  that  kid's  doing  some 
thing  he  wants  to  learn.  We'll  just  elect  Dick 
leader  and  let  him  do  the  bossing." 

"  But  I  don't  want  to,"  protested  Dick,  "  I  — " 
"  Don't    remember    hearing    anyone    ask    you 
whether  you   did   or  not,"   laughed   Ted   Knight. 
"  Bill's  motion's  carried  three  to  one." 


76  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

This  off-hand  election  to  leadership  of  the  new 
patrol  did  more  than  anything  else  could  have  done 
to  prove  to  Dick  that  they  were  all  behind  him,  and 
knowing  better  than  they  what  the  position  stood 
for,  he  was  determined  to  prove  himself  worthy 
of  filling  it.  "  If  you  fellows  believe  in  me,"  he 
began, — 

"Oh,  forget  it!"  exclaimed  Bud. 

"  Weinberg's  only  a  half-baked  cross  section  of  a 
sausage,"  declared  Billy.  "  They  ought  to  run  all 
the  Germans  out  of  the  country." 

"Who's  bombing  the  Hun?"  demanded  a  big 
voice  from  the  doorway.  "  There's  still  enough  of 
me  left  to  help  him  carry  on." 

Mr.  Tregressor  was  on  his  feet,  his  face  alight. 
"  Dal !  "  he  cried.  "  Is  this  the  way  you've  learned 
to  obey  orders?  I  told  you  not  to  come  in  till 
8:30." 

"  Three  minutes  past  zero,  Gov'nor.  So  this  is 
your  squad!  Recruiting  looks  a  bit  dull  but  ma 
terial  good.  Hello,  fellows !  " 

"  My   son,   boys,''    announced   Mr.    Tregressor. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  77 

"Dal  arrived  just  before  supper,  and  I  was  saving 
him  as  a  surprise/'  His  eyes  glowed  with  pride  as 
he  laid  a  hand  affectionately  on  the  empty  sleeve  of 
the  lithe,  handsome  man  who  had  burst  in.  Then 
he  introduced  them  in  turn,  lingering  over  the  cere 
mony,  as  if  he  were  giving  each  boy  the  treat  of  his 
life  —  and,  to  Mr.  Tregresssor,  it  was  just  that. 
"  Now  sit  down,  Dal,"  he  ordered,  when  he  had 
gone  the  rounds,  "  and  tell  these  fellows  something 
about  real  wig-wagging." 

"  But  I  want  to  hear  more  about  the  German  sau 
sage  you're  going  to  run  out  of  the  country.  I'm 
still  interested  in  sausages  on  the  run.  Which  one's 
camping  on  the  trail  of  the  Hun  ?  " 

Billy  Defoe's  face  portrayed  his  very  real  em 
barrassment  over  being  brought  into  the  lime-light, 
and,  in  his  confusion,  he  began  to  blurt  out  the  whole 
story  of  Weinberg's  injustice.  Twice  Dick  tried  to 
stop  him,  but  both  times  Dal  Tregressor  silenced  him 
with  a  shake  of  the  head.  "  Carry  on,  youngster," 
he  ordered;  "it  sounds  true  to  form." 

But  when  Bill  had  finished,  the  soldier  turned 


78  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

squarely  on  Dick.  "What  was  stolen?"  he  de 
manded. 

"  Don't  know." 

"  You  people  here  make  munitions,  don't  you  ? 
What  you  got  Germans  in  the  place  for  ?  " 

"  Easy,  Dal,  easy!     You're  not  in  Flanders." 

"  Apparently  not.  Anybody  in  this  country 
awake  yet?  If  a  German  foreman  had  started 
something  with  me,  youngster,  I'd  have  stuck  round 
till  he  was  sick  of  trying  to  finish  it." 

If  Dick  had  been  uncomfortable  before,  it  was  as 
nothing  to  his  sensations  now  as  he  felt  the  soldier 
eyeing  him  with  what  he  mistook  for  contempt.  He 
had  never  wanted  to  justify  himself  so  much  as 
before  this  veteran,  but  he  could  not  speak  unless 
he  went  against  Mr.  Kendall's  orders,  without  in 
volving  Jim  Scott. 

Tregressor  was  quick  to  note  the  boy's  distress, 
and,  like  the  big,  whole-souled  man  he  was,  wheeled 
round  on  Dick.  "  Don't  get  the  idea  I'm  criticizing 
you,  Hall,"  he  said ;  "  you  look  like  the  sort  of  chap 
who'd  play  off  his  own  bat  and  play  square.  But  it 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  79 

makes  me  mad  all  the  way  through  to  see  how  you 
Americans  are  letting  the  Germans  put  it  all  over 
you.  You'll  wake  up  some  day,  and  what  all  we 
people  over  across  have  been  hoping  is  that  it  won't 
be  too  late.  But  take  this  from  me  and  remember 
it :  I've  carried  a  Kendall  gun  into  places  where  it's 
argued  for  my  life,  but  I'd  have  been  a  big  sight 
more  scared  if  I'd  known  a  German  foreman  had 
had  a  hand  in  its  making.  That's  what  I  think  of 
Fritzie.  Having  eased  that  out  of  my  system,  I'll 
try  to  be  civilized  again.  Father,  you  didn't  know 
you'd  reared  a  barbarian,  did  you?  "  he  added,  with 
a  good-natured  laugh.  "  Somehow  life  over  there 
makes  a  man  want  to  talk  as  straight  as  he  lives  "or 
dies.  Is  that  real  candy  ?  " 

"  It  is,"  asserted  Mr.  Tregressor,  "  but  it's  not 
for  you,  nor  will  it  be,  until  you  learn  not  to  preach 
hate  to  my  boys." 

"  Now  what  do  you  chaps  think  of  that!  "  he  ex 
claimed,  looking  about  the  circle  with  an  expression 
which  almost  convulsed  them.  "  Do  you  suppose  he 
has  Prussian  blood  in  him  to  make  him  show  such 


80  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

cruelty?  Let's  test  him."  He  reached  out  his  one 
hand  and  filled  it  with  chocolates.  "  But  not  till 
you  say  so,"  he  added  in  a  quiet  voice,  glancing  at 
his  father. 

"  God  bless  you,  boy!  I  was  only  joking."  The 
old  man's  eyes  were  moist  as  he  moved  the  dish 
nearer.  "  But,  if  you're  going  to  commandeer  these 
boys'  candy,  you've  got  to  make  some  return." 

"  I  think,"  piped  up  Nick,  whose  eyes,  for  the  past 
five  minutes,  had  been  as  wide  as  his  mouth,  "  I  think 
you  ought  to  tell  us  something  about  the  war." 

"  Please !     Please !  "  they  chorused. 

"  Fin  not  much  of  a  yarner,"  he  laughed,  "  but 
I've  a  sneaking  suspicion  I  was  lured  in  here  by  that 
innocent  looking  old  party  for  some  such  desperate 
purpose.  We  were  talking  about  seeing  things 
through  awhile  ago,"  he  said,  crossing  his  knees 
and  snuggling  comfortably  into  the  easy  chair,  as  if 
such  things  felt  good  again ;  "  suppose  I  tell  you  the 
story  of  the  man  who  didn't  know  he  was  licked." 


CHAPTER  V 

THE   BEAVER    PATROL 

"  I'M  going  to  call  this  chap  Vic  La  Motte  because 
that  wasn't  his  name,"  began  Tregressor  with  an 
inclusive  smile.  "  He  walked  like  an  Indian  be 
cause  he  had  walked  a  long  way  into  the  White 
North  with  real  Indians.  He  was  a  dead  shot,  be 
cause,  if  he  hadn't  been,  he  would  have  been  dead 
years  before.  And  he  was  the  cleanest  fighting, 
straightest  living  dare-devil  who  ever  came  wander 
ing  into  Ottawa, —  and  that's  some  tribute!" 

"  Where'd  he  wander  in  from?  "  queried  the  ever- 
curious  Nick. 

"  Some  way  or  other,  you  don't  ask  that  sort  of 
chap  that  question,"  the  man  answered  with  a  slight 
smile.  "  He  tells  you  what  he  wants  you  to  know, 
and  you  let  it  go  at  that.  From  what  he  dropped 
later,  though,  I'd  have  taken  my  one  guess  that  he 

81 


82  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

was  up  round  the  Saskatchewan  country  when  some 
thing  gave  him  the  hunch  there'd  be  more  excite 
ment  presently  in  the  East  and  he  hit  the  trail  with 
both  feet. 

"  Chap  I  knew,  who'd  been  in  the  Northwestern 
Mounted,  introduced  him  to  me.  The  war  was 
about  four  hours  old  then  and  all  three  of  us  were 
anxious  to  find  out  how  we  were  going  to  get  into 
the  game.  The  ex-policeman  was  all  for  the  cavalry 
—  thought  the  war  was  going  to  be  won  on  horse 
back  and  hated  to  walk,  anyway.  He's  fighting  a 
biplane  now,"  he  threw  in,  "  but  La  Motte  was  all 
for  keeping  only  his  feet  under  him.  I  felt  about 
the  same  way.  Never  did  like  to  be  nursemaid  to 
a  horse.  Anyway,  it  broke  up  the  party,  for  the 
Northwest  man  headed  back  for  Alberta  and  left 
Vic  and  me  running  round  in  circles  wondering 
whether  the  Kilties  or  the  Rifles  would  be  sent  across 
first." 

"  Never  did  understand  why  you  didn't  go  to 
Montreal  and  enlist  in  Will's  regiment,"  said  Mr. 
Tregressor  in  a  low  voice. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  83 

"  I  did  think  of  it,  Gov'nor,  but  then,  Will  —  he 
was  an  officer,  you  know  and,  in  those  days  I  was 
foolish  about  such  things.  Anyway,  first  thing 
I  knew,  there  were  rumors  of  a  new  regiment  to  be 
formed,  and,  after  I  heard  'em,  I  couldn't  think  of 
anything  but  how  I  was  going  to  squeeze  into  it." 

"  Supposed  all  regiments  wanted  recruits,"  ven 
tured  Dick. 

"  They  do.  But  some  of  'em  are  fussier  than 
others.  This  one  wanted  only  veterans  of  the  South 
African  war  or  men  who  — "  He  stopped  and  his 
eyes  began  to  twinkle.  "  I'll  be  making  myself  out 
a  desirable  party  next,"  he  laughed.  "  I  knew  a 
captain;  that's  how  they  let  me  in." 

"  He'd  known  him  in  the  Klondike,"  explained 
his  father.  "  They'd  been  through  all  any  two 
men  could  experience." 

"We  thought  we  had  —  then,"  admitted  Dal 
thoughtfully.  "  Anyway,  they  accepted  me,  and 
when  I  told  La  Motte,  he  started  for  headquarters 
like  a  musher  after  a  string  of  runaway  huskies." 

"  What's  that  like  ?  "  begged  Jimmie  Farnsworth. 


84  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Man  chasing  a  dog  team.  But  he  came  back 
about  as  sociable  as  a  wounded  grizzly.  Said  they'd 
told  him  he  was  under  weight,  lacked  fighting  ex 
perience,  and  had  had  no  military  training.  He 
managed  to  pack  his  temper  as  far  as  a  telegraph 
office  without  its  exploding,  and  th'en  he  set  a  few 
wires  afire.  I  never  did  see  those  answers,  but  they 
did  some  good  up  at  headquarters.  Also,  they 
added  to  Vic's  troubles.  They  showed  he  was  an 
American.  I  believe  he  finally  proved  Lexington, 
Ky.,  was  in  the  Hudson  Bay  country,  but  the 
major  always  was  a  better  judge  of  men  than  map 
work. 

" '  Thought  they  could  keep  me  from  doing  my 
bit  for  the  queen,'  he  snorted,  when  he  came  back  to 
the  room  where  we  were  living. 

"  I  was  mean  enough  to  suggest  that  a  king 
ruled  the  empire  and  he'd  better  be  more  careful, 
but  he  reckoned  it  didn't  matter  'so  long  as  the 
fightin's  goin'  to  be  good.'  All  he  had  to  do  now 
was  gain  three  or  four  pounds  over  night.  '  And 
what's  that  between  friends  ? '  he  chuckled.  '  I 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  85 

haven't  begun  to  fight  that  outfit  yet.  I'm  flat  broke, 
but  here's  where  I  go  out  and  eat  what  you'd  call  a 
re-past.'  " 

"Why  didn't  you  give  him  some  money,  Dal? 
It  wasn't  like  you." 

"  He'd  gotten  me  curious,  too,"  confessed  Tre- 
gressor.  "  I  didn't  want  to  spoil  any  fun.  A  lot 
of  the  fellows  were  keen  for  Vic  by  this  time,  and 
we  all  wanted  to  see  how  far  he'd  go  on  his  own. 
One  of  the  other  regiments  had  sent  word  they'd 
taken  him  on,  but  he  told  their  sergeant  he  was 
going  with  us  in  spite  of  us.  So,  what's  he  do  that 
night,  but  breeze  into  the  biggest  restaurant  in 
Ottawa,  call  for  the  proprietor  to  come  forward  and 
slap  a  hand  on  each  of  his  shoulders  when  he  did. 

"  '  You're  a  Canadian,'  he  charged ; '  so'm  I.  But 
I  ain't  as  much  of  a  Canadian  by  five  pounds  as  I 
got  to  be  at  9:30  to-morrow  mornin'.  Do  I  feed 
here?' 

"  The  proprietor  caught  the  point.  So  did  about 
fifty  people  at  the  tables.  '  You  do ! '  he  declared 
and  there  was  a  yell  from  all  round  the  room. 


86  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

" '  It's  goin'  to  be  some  eats,  brother,'  warned 
Vic. 

"  *  You're  the  one  who's  running  the  risk,  old  son,' 
answered  the  proprietor. 

"  '  Then  bring  on  the  meat/  dared  La  Motte,  sit 
ting  down  at  a  table  all  alone,  with  about  ten  of  us 
lads  lined  up  behind  him  and  all  the  room  cheering. 

"  He  didn't  go  at  it  like  a  starved  man,  but  just 
thoughtful  and  workmanlike,  and  he  didn't  mind  all 
the  talk,  or  the  men  and  women  crowding  up  to  shake 
his  hand.  He  just  ate  and  ate  and  ate,  and  the 
waiters  began  to  fight  for  the  privilege  of  bringing 
him  things.  It  was  when  a  fresh  young  reporter 
came  bustling  in  to  get  the  story,  though,  that  Vic 
put  down  his  knife. 

" '  Stranger,'  he  drawled,  all  the  fun  gone  from 
those  cold,  gray  eyes,  '  this  ain't  any  special  joke 
with  me,  or  with  the  gent  who's  settin'  up  the 
chuck.  If  you're  lookin'  for  trouble,  go  enlist  and 
be  of  some  use  to  your  country.  Mush ! ' 

"  He  mushed,"  Dal  added  with  a  reminiscent 
chuckle. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  87 

"  Thought  mush  was  something  you  ate,"  ob 
served  Jimmie  Farnsworth,  his  eyes  big. 

"  Keep  quiet,  you !  "     Nick's  voice  was  disgusted. 

"  Klondike  slang  for  hike,"  explained  Dal  kindly. 
"  La  Motte  went  back  to  work,  though,  as  if  noth 
ing  had  happened,  but  he  was  even  more  popular 
with  that  crowd.  They'd  have  given  him  Ottawa, 
if  he'd  asked  'em  for  it.  As  it  was,  one  old  chap, 
with  two  sons  already  with  the  flag,  begged  the  priv 
ilege  of  taking  Vic  home  for  the  rest  of  the  night 
and  breakfast,  with  the  right  to  drive  him  to  the  re 
cruiting  office  in  the  morning.  They  went  out  to 
gether,  arm  in  arm,  the  band  playing  'em  through 
the  door  and  everyone  yelling  their  heads  off.  Ot 
tawa  was  some  enthusiastic  in  those  days,  fellows." 

"  But  did  the  recruiting  office  accept  him?  "  asked 
Ned  West  anxiously. 

Tregressor  shook  his  head  sorrowfully.  "  He'd 
had  another  steak  for  breakfast,  but,  when  they  put 
him  on  the  scales,  even  the  lieutenant  said  things. 
La  Motte  was  a  pound  shy." 

"  Gee,  but  that  was  tough  luck!  " 


88  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  It  sure  was,  Hall.  We  all  thought  it  was  Vic 
for  the  Kilties.  But  the  old  boy  only  laughed. 
*  Wait  till  I  get  me  a  lung  full  of  air,'  he  said ;  *  then 
give  me  another  whirl  at  those  scales.  I'm  gettin' 
heavier  every  minute.' ' 

"  They  gave  him  the  chance,  but  only  because  he 
was  so  game.  None  of  them  thought  he'd  ever 
make  the  weight." 

"Did  he?" 

Tregressor  nodded  owlishly.  "  I've  always  sus 
pected  the  old  man  who  brought  him  down  town  in 
his  car.  I  think  he  put  his  foot  on  the  scales  when 
everyone  was  looking  out  the  window.  But  Vic 
claims  not.  Just  said  you  couldn't  keep  a  good 
man  down,  even  in  weight.  Whatever  it  was,  he 
gained  six  pounds  in  thirty  seconds.  He  signed  the 
muster  roll  before  he'd  stop  to  put  his  clothes  back 
on." 

"  Then  what  happened  ?  "  It  was  Bud  Carter 
who  spoke,  but  the  elder  Tregressor's  face  was  the 
most  pleased. 

"  They  herded  us  into  training  camp  mighty  soon, 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  89 

youngster,  and  set  us  to  work.  And  it  was  work, 
believe  me,  it  was  real  work!  Yet  that  man  La 
Motte  never  seemed  to  get  fed  up  on  it.  He 
must  have  had  a  heap  of  army  training  sometime, 
somewhere.  They  discovered  that  in  short  order. 
He  was  a  corporal  before  that  day  when  the  Prin 
cess  Patricia  herself  gave  us  the  colors  she'd  em 
broidered  and  told  us  good-by  and  good  luck.  And 
let  me  tell  you  one  thing,"  he  added  grimly ;  "  these 
colors  have  dripped  red  but  never  been  stained. 
Princess  Pat  will  never  be  ashamed  of  Her  Own." 

"  Nor  will  Canada,"  cried  his  father ;  "  nor  the 
empire.  The  Princess  Pats  and  the  Light  Brigade 
march  up  to  immortality  side  by  side." 

For  a  moment  his  big  son  looked  at  him  with  eyes 
suddenly  tender.  Then,  as  if  to  cover  his  feelings, 
he  gave  a  short,  gay  laugh.  "  Don't  you  believe 
it,  Gov'nor.  It  takes  better  than  cavalry  to  keep 
pace  with  the  Pats.  At  least,"  he  added,  "that's 
what  La  Motte  said,  when  we'd  finished  our  first 
route  march." 

"  They  gave  us  plenty  of  'em,  too,"  he  went  on. 


90  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Word  kept  coming  from  over  there  to  send  men 
and  the  Pats  had  first  call  because  most  of  us  were 
veterans.  We  went  over  that  first  winter  and  got 
our  first  bath  in  Flanders  mud  and  our  first  sight  of 
the  Boche  parapet  before  we'd  forgotten  New 
Year's.  And  all  the  Tommies  wondered  what  we'd 
do  when  we  went  over  the  top." 

"  It  got  on  the  nerve  of  a  lot  of  us,  that  wonder 
ing  if  we  Maple  Leaf  men  had  back-bone  and  it 
especially  got  Vic  La  Motte.  Also  there  was  a  Hun 
machine  gun  in  front  of  our  position  —  it  was  near 
St.  Eloi  —  which  made  him  unusually  peevish.  He 
took  it  as  a  sort  of  personal  insult,  and  got  to  shoot 
ing  at  it  on  all  impossible  occasions.  The  Hun  got 
equally  peevish  at  him  and  quite  a  lot  of  people  got 
hurt  on  both  sides  of  No  Man's  Land.  They  did 
on  ours,  anyway,  and,  as  all  our  boys  were  fair 
shots,  Fritzie  must  have  got  his,  too." 

"  Vic  grouched  about  that  gun  till  he  got  the  lieu 
tenant's  goat,  and  the  lieutenant  kicked  to  the  cap 
tain  till  the  captain  got  sore  and  carried  it  up  to  the 
major,  who  finally  said  '  all  right.'  Then  the  glad 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  91 

tidings  filtered  their  way  back  to  Vic  and  he  picked 
out  half  a  dozen  chaps  who  could  crawl  up  and  slap 
a  mountain  sheep  on  the  nose  and  they  went  over 
the  top." 

"  Back  in  the  trench  we  didn't  dare  breathe  for 
fear  the  Hun'd  hear  and  start  something.  Every 
once  in  a  while  a  flare  would  go  up  and  light  the 
wire,  but  those  seven  chaps  would  bury  their  noses 
in  the  mud  and  play  dead.  I've  known  long  ten 
minutes,  I've  been  in  a  wing  which  was  in  the  air, 
I've  been  down  to  my  last  clip  and  wondering  where 
the  next  cartridge'd  come  from,  I've  shivered  in  a 
support  trench  under  drum  fire  and  I've  been  in  shell 
holes  while  the  machine  guns  played  over  the  edges 
like  garden  hose,  but  I've  never  dripped  so  much 
cold  sweat  as  while  we  waited  for  something  to 
start  that  night." 

"  And  it  broke,  believe  me,  it  broke !  But  it 
wasn't  the  bombs  of  our  men;  it  was  the  rattle  of 
that  machine  gun.  The  Hun  crew  had  spotted  'em 
under  the  light  of  a  star  shell.  We  tried  to  cover 
'em.  We  turned  loose  everything  we  had.  So  did 


92  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Fritzie.  For  twenty  minutes  it  was  a  regular  show. 
Then  it  died  down,  broke  out  again,  died  down  and 
only  the  snipers  stayed  on  the  job." 

"  Were  they  all  dead  ? "  asked  Dick  in  a  low 
tone. 

"  After  what'd  happened,  it  seemed  plausible," 
retorted  Tregressor  gruffly.  "  We'd  started  a  scrap 
along  quite  a  front  and  the  messages  which  came  in 
didn't  seem  to  soothe  anyone  but  the  high  command 
who  sent  'em.  It  was  all  the  officers  could  do  to 
keep  the  companies  in  the  front  lines  from  going 
over  and  having  it  out  with  Fritz  then  and  there." 

"  But  right  in  the  middle  of  our  growling  came 
a  '  Bang !  Bang ! '  We  saw  a  flash  in  that  machine 
gun  emplacement,  then  the  rifle  fire  began.  If 
they'd  ever  have  cut  loose  the  guns,  nothing  on 
earth  could  have  held  the  Pats.  The  whole  show 
was  going  again  only,  this  time,  La  Motte's  ma 
chine  gun  seemed  kind  of  disinterested  and  still." 

"  Well,  anyway,"  he  said,  drawing  a  long  breath, 
"nobody  knew  what  had  started  the  second  scrap 
till  just  before  dawn.  Then  something  rolled  over 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  93 

our  sand  bags  and  crashed  down  into  the  trench. 
They  dug  it  out  and  discovered  it  was  La  Motte. 
He  only  had  three  or  four  holes  in  him  so,  when  he 
spotted  the  lieutenant,  he  stiffened  up  against  the 
trench  wall  and  tried  to  salute.  But  he  crumpled." 
"  We  didn't  get  the  whole  story  till  after  the  big 
fight.  Then  only  a  few  of  us  were  left  to  hear  it. 
He'd  played  dead  out  there  in  the  mud,  laid  still, 
with  bombs  hung  all  over  him  like  candies  on  a 
Christmas  tree,  while  the  bullets  swept  overhead.  If 
one  had  grazed  him  then,  he'd  have  gone  to  pieces 
like  a  shrapnel.  But,  when  the  fire  had  died  down, 
he'd  wiggled  forward.  He  knew  his  men  were  all 
down;  he  expected  to  go  West  any  second  himself. 
But,  before  he  went  out,  he  wanted  that  Hun  gun. 
He'd  started  out  to  get  it  and  he  was  going  to. 
He  did.  He  crept  up  till  he  could  lob  a  couple  of 
bombs  into  it.  Then  he  lobbed  'em.  That  was  the 
banging  we'd  heard.  It  was  what  started  the  second 
party,  too.  He  tried  to  crawl  for  it  but  they 
dropped  him  with  bullets  in  both  legs.  That  would 
have  discouraged  any  man  but  Vic.  He  pulled  him- 


94  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

self  the  rest  of  the  way,  pulled  himself  on  his  belly 
till  he  could  roll  over  the  top  of  the  fire  trench.  It 
would  have  finished  anyone  else,  but  he  didn't  know 
when  he  was  licked.  Last  time  I  saw  him  he  was 
charging  through  the  smoke  *  somewhere  in  France  ' 
hunting  the  Hun  who'd  winged  him.  They  say  in 
the  Pats,"  finished  Tregressor,  "  that  Vic  La  Motte 
would  lick  the  Prussian  guard,  and  then  go  hunting 
for  a  real  fight." 

"  I'd  like  to  know  that  man,"  declared  Dick. 
"  He's  certainly  gritty." 

"  Physical  courage  isn't  the  greatest  courage," 
stated  Mr.  Tregressor  soberly,  "  nor  is  it  always  the 
bravest  man  who  faces  the  rain  of  steel  and  charges 
home.  I  like  Dai's  Vic  La  Motte  as  much  as  any 
of  you  do,  but  after  all,  he  was  only  doing  a  thing 
it  was  his  privilege  to  do.  Now  I'm  going  to  tell 
you  a  story." 

"Gee,  but  I'm  glad  I  came!"  chortled  Nick. 
"  It's  a  big  night  to-night." 

"  It  will  be  full  of  bad  luck  for  you,  if  you  don't 
shut  up,"  prophesied  Jimmie.  "  Most  of  the  time 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  95 

we  have  to  listen  to  you  whether  we  want  to  or  not 
but,  from  now  on,  you  play  safe  and  imitate  a  zero 
without  a  rim." 

"  I'm  through,  Mr.  Tregressor.  Didn't  mean  to 
butt  in." 

"  It's  all  right,  Nick,  or  will  be,  if  my  tale  comes 
up  to  your  expectations.  It's  about  another  soldier 
in  the  Princess  Pats,  not  a  soldier  who  didn't  know 
when  he  was  licked,  but  of  one  who  put  his  fellow 
man  above  himself." 

"  He,  too,"  he  began,  his  elbows  on  his  knees, 
his  hands  clasped  and  his  eyes  fixed  on  Dick  Hall, 
"  he,  too,  went  out  from  the  old  Dominion  in  the 
first  contingent.  He  went  through  all  that  Vic  La 
Motte  did  and  more.  He  fought  in  that  thin,  red 
line  which  saved  the  Empire,  he  went  through  that 
terrible  day  at  Hooge  and  he  came  back  to  can 
tonments  unscathed,  while  the  Pats  once  more  as 
similated  a  depot  brigade  and  changed  themselves 
again  from  a  band  of  tattered  heroes  into  the  same 
undying  fighting  machine. 

"  Again  and  again  they  took  their  place  in  the 


96  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

first  line  and  again  and  again  they  came  back  to  fill 
the  gaps  in  the  ranks.  Nothing  seemed  able  to 
daunt  them ;  nothing  could  make  them  falter,  for  the 
spirits  of  those  who  had  gone  hovered  over  the  flag. 
I  don't  know  the  full  story  of  this  man,"  he  went 
on,  in  an  even  quieter  voice,  yet  in  his  every  word 
there  was  a  tingle  which  each  boy  felt  in  some 
strange  way ;  "  I  don't  suppose  I  shall  ever  know 
it.  The  Maple  Leaf  men  do,  rather  than  talk.  But 
this  much  I  heard ;  this  much  I  know." 

"  Over  there  is  a  little,  shell-wrecked  village,  one 
of  hundreds  where  men  and  women  and  children 
lived  in  peace  and  happiness  before  the  guns  began 
to  boom.  I  haven't  seen  it;  I  don't  want  to  see  it. 
I'd  rather  picture  it  as  it  used  to  be.  It  isn't  a 
home  town  any  more ;  it's  just  '  somewhere  in 
France.'  " 

"  But  then  it  wasn't  in  France.  The  Germans 
held  it ;  the  Princess  Pats  were  in  the  trenches  on 
its  western  edge.  One  day  came  the  order  to  ad 
vance.  The  stage  was  set.  The  guns  had  blasted 
a  path.  ,  At  the  signal  they  went  over,  the  shrapnel 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  97 

and  high  explosives  bursting  in  their  faces,  their 
own  curtain  of  fire  creeping  on  ahead." 

"  They  went  through,  some  of  them,  and  they 
went  beyond,  still  fewer  of  them.  But  when  the 
German  counter-attack  was  spent,  that  little  town 
was  again  '  somewhere  in  France.'  " 

"  Yet  out  in  that  new  No  Man's  Land  lay  the  dead 
and  wounded  of  the  Princess  Pats  and  on  them  the 
defeated  enemy  vented  his  rage.  No  man  could  live 
out  there  in  the  open.  Only  those  who  had 
struggled  into  shell  holes  could  hope  for  a  few  hours 
more  of  life.  All  day  the  Pats  held,  hoping  for 
the  sorely  needed  support  which  did  not  come. 
All  day  they  listened  to  the  cries  grow  weaker  and 
fewer." 

"  Then  came  the  night.  I've  lived  through  it  so 
often  in  my  own  sleepless  nights  that  I  believe  I  can 
imagine  some  little  part  of  the  things  those  boys 
lived  through.  I  can  almost  see  the  white  light  of 
those  flares  Dal  told  you  about;  I  can  almost  hear 
the  vicious  splutter  of  those  machine  guns,  as  they 
searched  out  the  wounded.  But  no  man  who  did 


98  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

not  go  through  it  can  know  what  the  Maple  Leaf 
men  went  through." 

"  An  officer  wrote  this  much  of  the  story  of  that 
night  to  me.  He  was  in  a  trench  angle,  studying 
the  German  position,  when  a  private  of  the  Pats 
came  up  to  him.  Their  words  must  have  been  few. 
Men  do  not  talk  much  under  such  circumstances. 
I  can  see  that  soldier's  crisp  salute;  I  can  see  him 
lean  his  rifle  against  the  trench ;  I  can  see  him  tighten 
his  belt,  then  look  at  his  automatic.  Then  I  can  see 
him  crawl  over  the  parapet  and  squirm  out  into  the 
steel-torn  night." 

"  And  then,"  he  said,  his  voice  still  lower,  "  I 
can  imagine  the  whisper  that  ran  down  that  thin- 
held  line,  as  the  word  was  passed  that  a  man  was 
out.  Like  them,  I've  counted  the  seconds  in  my 
own  night,  like  them,  I've  prayed  for  the  safety  of 
all  such  men  who  go  to  the  succor  of  the  wounded. 
That's  courage;  that's  the  acme  of  heroism;  that's 
offering  one's  life  for  a  friend." 

"  And  that's  what  he  did,"  he  said,  straightening 
suddenly,  his  blue  eyes  swimming  with  unconscious 


THAT'S  WHAT  DAL  .    .    .  DID  THAT  NIGHT  ''  SOMEWHERE 
IN  FRANCE  "  '  " 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  99 

tears  as  he  turned  to  his  own  boy,  "  that's  what  Dal 
Tregressor  of  the  Princess  Pats  did  that  night 
'  somewhere  in  France  '  and  the  second  of  the  three 
wounded  men  he  brought  back  from  the  living  dead 
was  the  Vic  La  Motte  he's  held  up  to  you  as  a 
hero." 

For  perhaps  ten  seconds  not  a  boy  spoke,  and 
only  the  soldier's  gruff,  uncomfortable  "  What  you 
tell  'em  that  for  ?  "  broke  the  silence.  Then  Nick 
Root  surged  to  his  feet.  "  Gee !  "  he  cried.  "  Let's 
do  something!  Let's  get  out  the  flag." 

Jimmie  Farnsworth  was  up.  Out  from  its  place 
by  the  book  cases  he  brought  the  Scout's  Stars  and 
Stripes.  His  hand  shook  a  little  as  he  straightened 
out  the  folds  and  saw  the  rest  come  to  attention. 
Then,  Mr.  Tregressor  leading,  they  repeated  that 
pledge  of  allegiance  to  the  flag  which  opens  every 
Scout  meeting. 

It  was  Dick  who  first  stepped  up  to  Dal  Tregres 
sor.  "  I'd  like  to  shake  hands,"  he  said  bluntly. 
"  Your  story  was  a  corker,  but  your  father's  was 
better.  Both  of  'em  make  a  fellow  ashamed  when 


100  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

he  remembers  how  many  times  he's  come  near  quit 
ting." 

Tregressor  caught  his  father's  eye,  and  took  what 
he  would  have  termed  punishment  like  the  soldier  he 
was.  Each  boy  wanted  to  shake  his  hand;  each 
tried  to  express  what  was  in  his  heart.  Dal  had 
not  been  more  uncomfortable  when  a  very  high 
personage  had  pinned  the  Victoria  Cross  on  his 
tunic. 

"  Look  here,"  he  finally  broke  out,  "  suppose  we 
forget  this  stuff  and  be  friends.  I  like  that  flag 
idea.  A  flag  means  a  lot  to  a  chap  after  he's 
marched  under  one.  You  seem  to  be  getting  the 
right  idea  about  yours.  If  you're  all  Boy  Scouts, 
why  don't  you  drill  ?  " 

"  We're  in  no  way  a  military  organization,  Dal," 
stated  his  father  emphatically. 

"  Oh !     Thought  I  might  be  of  some  use  to  you.' 

Dick  turned  and  looked  deep  into  the  calm  gray 
eyes.  "  You  can  be  a  whole  lot  of  use  to  some  of 
us,"  he  said.  "  They've  asked  me  to  organize  a  new 
patrol ;  will  you  be  our  scout  master  ?  " 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          101 

"  Splendid!  "  cried  Mr.  Tregressor.  "  Dal  would 
be  invaluable." 

"  Traid  not,"  he  answered  with  a  smile.  "  Don't 
know  the  game,  Gov'nor.  It's  each  man  where  he 
fits  best.  I'll  do  my  bit  from  the  outside  in  some 
way." 

"  If  you  say  so,  you  will."  There  was  more  than 
a  trace  of  disappointment  in  the  old  man's  face. 
"  If  you  say  so,  you  will,  Dal,"  he  repeated. 

"  Name  your  patrol  for  him,  Dick,"  exploded 
Nick  Root.  "  Call  it  the  Beaver.  That's  the  Cana 
dian  eagle." 

Even  Dal  Tregressor  roared.  "  Go  ahead,"  he 
agreed.  "  But  you  fellows  who  belong  to  it,"  he 
added  soberly,  "  must  never  forget  that  the  beaver 
is  a  tremendous  thing  to  live  up  to.  I'll  give  you 
another  motto  to  go  with  your  '  Be  Prepared  ' ;  '  Do 
it  with  a  laugh.'  " 


CHAPTER  VI 

A   GRAVE   DECISION 

NEVER  had  a  night  been  so  welcome  as  that  when 
Dick  went  down  to  join  the  new  shift;  never  a  boy 
more  delighted  than  he  when  told  to  report  to  old 
Ben  Robinson,  raised  to  night  foreman  of  the  as 
sembling  room.  The  thought  that  he  had  been 
promoted  to  a  better  job,  the  knowledge  that  Mr. 
Kendall  had  chosen  this  way  of  showing  both  his 
gratitude  for  silence  and  satisfaction  over  industry, 
gave  him  far  more  of  a  thrill  than  did  the  fact  that 
his  pay  envelope  would  henceforth  be  fatter. 

He  liked  both  Mr.  Robinson  and  his  methods,  and 
believed  he  would  like  all  the  new  men  whom  he 
saw  around  him.  As  for  the  old  ones,  there  were 
few  who  did  not  find  opportunity  to  express  their 
satisfaction  over  his  good  luck.  But  three  things 
remained  to  trouble  him :  The  least  was  Mr.  Ken 
dall's  reason  for  inflicting  such  a  trial  on  him,  the 

102 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS  103 

second  was  Weinberg's  ill-concealed  anger  at  his 
being  re-employed  and  the  greatest,  his  continued 
effort  to  find  an  explanation  for  Scott's  action. 

Having  to  work  at  the  wrong  end  of  the  day  cut 
him  off  from  most  of  his  younger  friends,  but, 
although  he  offered  to  resign  his  leadership  of  the 
Beaver  Patrol,  the  rest  would  not  listen.  Bud  Car 
ter  was  appointed  assistant  leader,  but  with  iron 
clad  instructions  from  all  the  members  to  do  noth 
ing  without  Dick's  sanction.  The  boy  spent  a  good 
part  of  this  new  spare  time  in  the  afternoon  studying 
Scout  law  and  signaling,  and  it  was  not  many  weeks 
before  he  was  almost  an  expert  with  the  flags  and 
began  to  turn  longing  eyes  toward  wireless. 

While  he  took  solid  satisfaction  in  self-improve 
ment,  his  greatest  pleasure  came  from  the  strange 
friendship  which  began  to  ripen  between  Dal  Tre- 
gressor  and  himself.  As  March  drifted  to  a  close, 
the  two  were  more  and  more  together,  for  the  man 
needed  comradeship  and  dreaded  to  be  left  alone 
with  the  vivid  memories  of  what  he  had  gone 
through.  He  would  have  applied  for  work  in  the 


104  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

factory  had  he  had  two  good  hands ;  he  would  have 
gone  back  to  Canada  had  he  not  seen  how  his  father 
clung  to  him  and  needed  him  to  help  bear  the  grief 
over  that  other  son  who  slept  in  France. 

Tregressor  insisted  that  Dick  spend  at  least  an 
hour  a  day  out  of  doors  and  they  took  long  tramps 
together  over  muddy  roads  and  soggy  fields.  It  was 
on  these  hikes  that  Dick  heard  the  stories  of  the 
trenches  and  came  to  understand  the  war  which, 
daily,  was  coming  closer  and  closer  to  the  United 
States. 

Then  came  that  day  in  early  April  when  President 
Wilson's  speech  to  Congress  proved  a  speech  to  the 
democracy  of  the  world.  Over  night,  Kendallville 
changed  from  an  indifferent  village  to  a  throbbing, 
vital  bit  of  the  United  States.  The  drawn,  anxious 
expression  on  Stephen  Kendall's  face  gave  way  to  a 
confident  smile  as  he  read  telegram  after  telegram 
which  was  rushed  to  his  office,  and  a  new  life  bub 
bled  throughout  the  shops.  Rumors  were  whirling 
this  way  and  that.  Every  one  was  on  edge.  Over 
time  would  seem  like  playtime  if  the  guns  they  made 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  105 

were  going  to  bark  beneath  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
at  last. 

On  his  way  to  work  one  night  within  the  week, 
Dick  heard  someone  calling  wildly  to  him,  and,  the 
next  moment,  Bud  Carter  dashed  up.  "  I've  got  it," 
he  cried.  "  I've  just  heard  and  I've  got  it." 

"  If  I've  only  one  guess,"  grinned  Dick,  "  it  isn't 
sense.  Get  your  feet  back  on  earth,  Bud." 

"Not  on  your  life!  My  feet  are  through  with 
that  stuff.  I've  passed  my  exams." 

"  What  are  you  talking  about?  " 

"Wireless!  Navy!  Oh,  glory!  Won't  Mr. 
Tregressor  be  pleased,  though.  He  taught  it  all 
to  me,  that  and  a  heap  more.  The  greatest  thing 
you  ever  did,  Dick  Hall,  was  getting  me  into  the 
Scouts.  It  gave  me  my  chance." 

"  For  the  love  of  Mike,  talk  sense !  What's  hap 
pened?  " 

"  Well,"  he  grinned,  taking  a  friendly  punch  at 
Dick's  chest,  "  I  heard  the  navy  wanted  wireless  men 
and  I  wanted  the  navy.  We're  in  the  war  now.  I 
want  to  be  sticking  round  when  we  take  our  first 


106  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

wallop  at  a  submarine.  I  saw  my  chance  and  I 
made  a  try  at  the  exams.  Mr.  Tregressor'd  coached 
me  a  pile  at  night,"  he  threw  in  excitedly,  "  and, 
say,  those  exams  were  a  cinch!  Knew  I'd  killed 
'em.  Passed  the  physical  exam.,  too.  Now  I'm 
ordered  to  report  at  Newport.  Get  me,  you  old 
land  lubber?  I'm  a  part  of  the  big  gray  fleet  and 
I'm  going  to  help  can  the  Kaiser.  Whoopee !  " 

With  another  swing,  this  time  at  Dick's  aston 
ished  head,  he  rushed  on  to  impart  his  wonderful 
news  to  Mr.  Tregressor,  whom  he  stoutly  believed 
to  be  the  source  of  all  his  luck.  Later,  he  was  to 
learn  that  luck  and  preparedness  were  far  different 
things.  But  that  was  when  he  was  far  from  Ken- 
dallville,  and  great,  oily  waves  curled  in  from  a 
storm-swept  sea. 

Within  the  next  twenty-four  hours  Dick  heard 
that  Bill  Defoe  and  Longshanks  Bliss,  the  newest 
tenderfoot  of  the  Beaver  patrol,  had  gained  their 
parents'  consent  to  enlist.  Bill's  attitude  was  far 
different  from  that  of  Bud,  his  life-long  running 
mate. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  107 

"  I  had  to  do  it,"  he  said  with  new  soberness. 
"  None  of  my  family's  ever  carried  a  gun  and  it's 
time  some  Defoe  did  his  best  to  pay  back  the  country 
for  all  it's  done  for  us." 

"  Are  you  going  into  the  navy  with  Bud  ?  " 

"  No,  I  get  sea-sick  whenever  I  think  of  a  ship. 
The  infantry's  what's  going  to  see  the  whole  game. 
I'm  going  into  the  regulars." 

"  Have  you  talked  it  over  with  Dal?  " 

"  I  haven't  talked  with  any  one ;  I  didn't  need  to. 
I  know  what  I  want  to  do,  Dick.  Maybe  I  won't 
come  back,  but  I  guess  I  will.  But,  if  I  don't,  I'll 
know  that  I've  done  the  best  I  could  and  I'll  try  to 
do  it  with  a  grin." 

Dick  wanted  to  say  much  but,  somehow,  he  could 
not  put  his  thoughts  into  words,  nor  could  Bill  find 
any  more  to  offer.  For  a  moment  the  two  looked 
into  each  other's  eyes,  and,  for  a  moment,  as  all  their 
years  of  comradeship  passed  before  them,  their 
hands  met. 

"  Good  luck,  Bill !  "  said  Dick ;  "  it's  like  you  to 
do  this." 


108  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Good  luck,  Dick !  See  you  to-morrow  before  I 
go." 

With  that  they  parted,  Dick  to  go  on  to  the  fac 
tory  and  the  work  which  had,  somehow,  lost  half  its 
zest,  his  brain  busy  with  the  parts  his  friends  were 
to  play  in  the  great  war,  busy  with  the  part  Dal 
Tregressor  had  already  played,  and  busier  yet  with 
the  part  he  could  fill. 

It  was  that  same  night  that  Stephen  Kendall 
appeared  among  his  men  while  they  were  eating  their 
midnight  lunch.  To  the  older  men,  he  seemed  again 
the  lad,  fresh  from  college,  as  he  leaned  against  a 
set  of  lockers  and  took  big  bites  from  an  apple. 
"  I've  been  put  on  the  night  shift,  too,"  he  announced 
with  a  smile.  "  My  father  believes  that  one  of  us 
should  be  on  the  job  all  the  time,  and,  between  us, 
it's  going  to  be  some  job!  We've  been  lucky 
enough  to  get  a  big  contract,  and,  if  we  make  good, 
more  should  come." 

"  We're  with  you,"  cried  half  a  dozen  men. 

It  was  the  chance  he  had  hoped  for.  "  I  know 
that,"  he  said  with  sudden  seriousness.  "  You 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          109 

older  men  have  always  stood  side  by  side  with  us, 
and  you  new  men  are  showing  you're  willing  to  do 
the  same.  The  government's  going  to  need  men. 
Neither  the  army  or  navy  is  at  full  strength. 
It's  the  instinct  of  every  American  to  do  his  all 
when  his  country  needs  him.  I  don't  want  to 
keep  a  man  here  from  enlisting.  My  father  and 
I  have  talked  this  over;  any  man  who  en 
lists  will  find  his  place  open  when  the  war's 
over." 

The  sharp  yell  of  approval  brought  more  color  to 
his  face,  but  he  checked  the  enthusiasm  with  a  quick, 
"  Hold  up !  There's  another  side  to  consider,  and  it 
isn't  as  selfish  as  it  sounds  at  first.  You  men  are 
making  arms  for  your  army.  You're  doing  your 
part  here.  If  all  of  you  who  are  of  enlistment  age 
should  join  the  colors  you'd  put  us  in  a  bad  predica 
ment.  Think  that  over  before  you  decide.  If  they 
pass  the  draft  law,  I  imagine  you  all  will  be  ex 
empted.  I'm  not  asking  you  to  go  against  your 
ideas  of  duty,"  he  finished ;  "  I'm  only  trying  my 
best  to  think  of  my  country.  That's  why  I'm  stay- 


110  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

ing  here  myself.  I've  refused  a  commission,  and 
it  was  the  hardest  thing  I  ever  did." 

It  was  one  of  the  new  men  who  started  the  cheer 
ing  which  Stephen  Kendall  could  not  stop.  Even 
old  Robinson  was  yelling.  A  dozen  men  were  shak 
ing  the  "  big  boss's  "  hands.  Never  before  had  he 
begun  to  appreciate  his  popularity. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I'd  like  to  do,"  he  announced, 
when  quiet  had  been  partially  restored,  "  and  that's 
start  a  home  guard  company.  Not  that  we'll  have 
trouble  here,"  he  added  quickly,  as  he  saw  the  men 
glance  from  one  to  the  other,  "  that's  guarded 
against  already.  We've  always  had  good  watch 
men.  But  it  seems  wise  to  my  father  to  strengthen 
that  force,  too.  You  men  will  all  be  given  passes 
to-morrow  and  you'll  not  be  admitted  inside  the 
new  fence  till  you  show  them.  So  don't  leave  them 
at  home  and  have  to  go  back." 

"Has  anything  happened,  sir?"  asked  Robinson 
anxiously. 

"  No,  nor  do  we  intend  that  anything  shall.  The 
plant  has  become  too  valuable  for  us  to  take  unnec- 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  111 

essary  risks.  Caution's  better  than  regrets,  Robin 
son.  That's  why  no  visitors  will  be  allowed,  no 
strangers  permitted  near  the  place." 

"  What  about  this  home  guard  thing?  "  asked  one 
of  the  new  men;  "  I've  been  in  the  militia;  I'll  take 
another  chance." 

"  Good  enough !.  My  idea's  to  have  regular  drills 
and  men  like  you  can  help  teach  those  of  us  who  are 
weak  on  drilling." 

"  Guess  I  ain't  much  of  a  teacher ;  I  was  only  a 
corporal." 

"  That's  more  than  I've  ever  been,"  acknowledged 
Mr.  Kendall.  "  Suppose  you  act  as  sergeant  now, 
and  talk  it  over  with  the  men  on  this  shift.  See 
how  the  idea  takes  hold.  Urge  the  youngsters,  and 
the  men  over  military  age,  to  join.  We'll  leave  the 
rest  to  settle  their  own  problems." 

Dick,  eating  his  sandwich  and  pie  on  the  edge  of 
the  crowd,  had  listened  intently,  but  the  more  he 
thought,  the  less  this  idea  of  a  home  guard  appealed 
to  him.  It  might  be  all  right  for  the  old  fellows, 
but,  somehow  or  other,  he  felt  that  he'd  be  ashamed 


112  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

to  march  with  them  when  he  might  be  marching  at 
Bill  Defoe's  side,  or  crouching  with  him  in  a  bullet- 
swept  trench. 

He  liked  what  Stephen  Kendall  had  said  about 
the  men  being  free  to  go  or  stay,  liked  the  idea  that 
he  was  doing  his  part  in  the  big  work  and  that  he 
was  needed.  But,  as  he  went  back  to  his  bench,  he 
began  to  wonder  how  much  he  really  was  needed, 
how  vital  a  part  he  was  playing. 

He  glanced  down  the  brilliantly  lighted  shop. 
All  the  men  looked  older  than  he.  Many  were  gray 
haired,  the  fathers  of  the  boys  he  played  with.  It 
was  important  work  they  were  on,  their  care  and 
attention  to  minute  detail  proved  that.  Dick  found 
himself  wondering,  more  and  more,  if  some  older 
man  could  not  take  his  place  and  so  free  him  to  play 
a  young  man's  part. 

It  was  not  because  Bud  and  Bill  and  Longshanks 
had  already  gone  that  he  felt  this  new,  haunting 
spirit  of  unrest;  it  was  not  Dal  Tregressor's  stories 
or  example  which  made  him  study  the  assembled 
automatic  in  his  hands ;  it  was  not  the  thought  that 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  113 

his  father  had  gone  out  in  '98  which  made  his  fingers 
tighten  on  the  grip  and  his  head  go  up.  It  was  the 
tingle  of  patriotism  in  his  blood,  the  thrill  at  the 
knowledge  that  he  was  an  American,  the  conscious 
pride  which  made  his  jaw  square  when  he  realized 
that  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  up  which  made  him, 
then  and  there,  decide  that  there  was  but  one  thing 
for  him  to  do. 

He  could  hardly  wait  for  morning  to  tell  his 
father  that  another  Hall  was  going  to  the  colors. 
He  knew  he  was  young,  but  he  had  heard  his  father, 
say,  time  after  time,  that  the  young  man  was  the 
fighting  man.  Beyond  that  his  thoughts  were  not 
of  himself.  He  forgot  his  hard-earned  proficiency 
in  signaling,  his  value  as  a  mechanic,  everything  ex 
cept  that  his  country  needed  men,  and  that  he  wanted 
to  do  his  bit  with  a  pack  upon  his  back  and  a  rifle 
in  his  hand. 

The  little  house  was  silent  when  he  arrived  there 
with  the  dawn,  and,  although  he  crept  into  bed,  sleep 
came  only  after  regiment  upon  regiment  had 
marched  in"  review  before  his  imagination,  their  col- 


114  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

ors  snapping  in  the  wind,  their  men  swinging  past 
with  easy  stride.  For,  somehow,  Dal  Tregressor's 
picture  of  war  had  faded  and  he  could  see  only  the 
glamour  of  action  and  feel  only  the  thrill  of  the 
unknown. 

Dick  awoke  at  ten  o'clock  and  went  down  to  find 
his  father  alone  and  deep  in  the  paper,  but  he  laid 
it  aside  as  the  boy  came  in.  "  Mornin',  Dick,"  he 
said ;  "  big  news  this  morning.  The  Kaiser's  found 
the  trouble  he's  been  looking  for.  The  call's  out 
for  more  men." 

"  I  imagined  so  from  what  I  heard  last  night. 
Coming  out  while  I  eat  ?  " 

"Sure!" 

Dick  pushed  the  wheeled  chair  out  into  the  kitchen 
and  to  a  place  opposite  his  at  the  table  and  then 
began  to  eat.  "  Your  old  regiment  ordered  out, 
Pop  ?  "  he  asked  between  bites. 

"  Dunno.  It's  been  on  the  Border.  They're  not 
giving  out  much  about  our  men.  But  I  know  one 
thing;  if  that  crowd  isn't  sent  across  they'll  be  the 
maddest  bunch  that  ever  wore  khaki." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  115 

"  They  must  be  a  great  crowd,"  sighed  Dick;  "  I'd 
like  to  see  them." 

"  I  wish  you  could,  my  boy ;  I  wish  you  could  be 
one  of  'em." 

Slowly,  and  very  quietly,  Dick  laid  down  his  knife 
and  looked  up  into  his  father's  glowing  eyes. 
"Why  can't  I  be  ?"  he  asked. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  What  I  said.  Why  can't  I  enlist,  as  you  did 
in  '98?  Why  shouldn't  another  Hall  go  out  with 
the  old  regiment  ?  " 

For  a  long  moment  the  two  looked  across  the 
table  and  deep  into  each  other's  souls,  but  the  face  of 
the  one  grew  red  and  that  of  the  other  more  pallid. 
It  was  Tom  Hall  who  heard  the  tramp  of  marching 
men  now.  To  him,  it  was  very  real.  Now  he 
thought  of  his  boy.  "Of  course  you  want  to  go," 
he  said;  "  I  couldn't  bear  it  if  you  didn't." 

"  Then  I  can  ?  "  cried  the  lad ;  "  you'll  give  your 
consent  ?  " 

"  If  you  want  it,"  was  the  even  retort;  "  if  you 
believe  your  duty  is  with  the  colors." 


116  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"I'll  be  eighteen  in  a  few  weeks,"  stated  Dick. 
"  They'll  take  me." 

"  Yes,  they'll  take  you,  and  be  glad  to  get  your 
sort.  You've  the  makings  of  a  fine  soldier. 
You've  a  level  head  and  you'll  obey.  Those  are  the 
two  great  things, —  those  and  good  health." 

"  I  wonder  if  I  could  get  into,  your  old  com 
pany?" 

"  I  guess  there're  some  of  the  old  officers  left  who 
may  remember  me.  I  can  ask,  if  you  finally  decide 
that  your  duty  lies  in  that  way." 

"  What  other  way  could  it  lie  ?  "  cried  the  boy, 
puzzled.  "  Certainly  a  fellow's  first  duty  is  to  his 
country." 

"  I'd  be  the  last  man  to  dispute  that,  Dick.  But, 
before  you  take  such  a  vital  step,  you  ought  to  make 
sure  that  you're  doing  your  country  your  greatest 
good  by  fighting." 

Dick's  eyes  grew  round  with  astonishment.  That 
his  father  should  even  hint  that  he  might  be  of 
greater  use  anywhere  but  in  the  front  line,  bewil 
dered  him.  The  man  saw  his  plight  and  it  made  his 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          117 

own  hard  part  the  harder.  "  Have  you  talked  this 
over  with  Stephen  Kendall?"  he  asked;  "has  he 
said  anything  to  the  men  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes.  He  came  in  last  night  and  said  he'd 
keep  any  one's  place  open  who  enlisted." 

"Was  that  all?" 

"  He  said  something  about  men  who  made  guns 
doing  their  part.  I  don't  remember  much  about 
that.  I  knew  it  would  be  easy  enough  to  get  some 
one  to  fill  my  place." 

Tom  Hall  took  a  long,  deep  breath.  "  But  how 
about  filling  it  here  at  home,  Dick  ?  " 

"  You  and  the  kids  want  me  to  go." 

"  Yes,  want  you  to  go  —  but  can  we  spare  you?  " 

"Father!" 

"  Well  ?  "  came  the  even  question, 

"  It  sounds  almost  selfish,"  gasped  Dick. 

Even  under  the  pain,  the  man's  face  never 
changed  nor  did  the  tone  of  his  voice  vary.  "  Are 
you  sure  you've  a  clear  idea  of  either  selfishness  or 
patriotism  ?  "  he  asked  gently.  "  I  know  you're 
willing  to  go,  to  stand  whatever  comes,  to  give  your 


118  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

life.  I  know  the  spirit  you'd  do  it  in,  for  I've  done 
it  myself.  Leave  that  aside;  forget  your  age  —  for 
you  are  a  boy,  even  if  you've  done  a  man's  work 
and  carried  a  man's  burden  for  two  years;  forget 
everything  but  the  country  we'd  both  die  for.  Are 
you  serving  your  country  best  by  enlisting?  " 

"  It's  the  only  way  I  can  give  it  anything,"  said 
the  boy. 

"  Stop  and  think,  son.  I  know  it's  hard  for  you 
but  you've  no  idea  how  hard  it  is  for  me.  Here  I 
am,  tied  to  a  chair  and  a  bed,  helpless,  sick,  no  good. 
No,  wait !  "  he  commanded  with  more  sternness  than 
he  had  ever  shown.  "  I'm  an  old  soldier,  and  I  can 
face  things  eyes  front.  If  I  had  even  part  of  a 
man's  strength,  I'd  tell  you  to  go,  to  take  my  old 
place  in  the  ranks,  to  carry  on.  But,  Dick,  I'm  help 
less;  I'm  dependent  on  you;  Sally  and  Nelson  are 
dependent  on  you.  The  little  we've  saved  wouldn't 
support  the  youngsters  after  they'd  put  me  in  a  sol 
diers'  home.  We  give  the  nation  one  fighting  man 
and  three  mill  stones." 

Slowly  Dick's  lips  parted  and  his  hands,  clutched 


OF  KE:NDALLVILLE       119 

on  the  table  before  him,  tightened  until  the  knuckles 
became  white.  "  That's  true,"  he  muttered,  "  all 
true." 

"  Yes,"  Mr.  Hall  repeated  in  a  low  voice ;  "  it's 
true  as  true.  I  gave  gladly  and  with  a  laugh,  but  I'd 
have  taken  a  slacker's  shame  if  I  could  have  saved 
my  boy  his  chance.  I'm  not  saying  you're  not  to 
do  as  you  think  best,"  he  added.  "  If  you  think  it  is 
your  duty  to  go,  go  and  we  three  will  love  you  and 
do  our  part  to  be  as  brave  as  you.  It's  for  you  to 
decide." 

"  I'm  a  slacker  whatever  I  do." 

"  No,"  came  the  gentle  contradiction,  "  no  son  of 
mine  can  be  that ;  it's  not  in  the  blood." 

"  If  I  stay,  they'll  say  I  am." 

"If  you're  going  because  you  care  what  people 
say,"  declared  Mr.  Hall  sharply,  "  you'll  go  in  some 
other  regiment  than  mine.  There's  no  place  for  a 
coward  in  the  old  crowd." 

"Father,  that's  unfair !" 

"  No,  the  truth  is  never  unfair.  You  and  I  are 
facing  the  truth  more  squarely  now  than  we  ever 


120  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

have  before,  and  we're  both  suffering,  Dick.  Don't 
think  it's  easy  for  a  father  to  say  the  things  I've 
said.  Whatever  you  do,  you're  going  to  do  for 
your  country,  not  to  satisfy  the  gossip  of  Kendall- 
ville.  It's  the  United  States  first,  last  and  all  the 
time." 

The  young  head  sunk  low  on  the  extended  arms 
and  there  was  a  suggestion  of  a  tremble  in  the  strong 
young  shoulders  which  made  the  man  long  to  lean 
across  the  table  and  lay  a  comforting  hand  upon 
them.  But,  instead  of  that,  Tom  Hall  drew  himself 
up  in  his  cushioned  chair  and  his  throbbing  back 
stiffened  until  it  was  as  rigid  as  in  those  old  days 
when  he  had  stood  at  attention  as  the  flag  went  by. 
The  fight  was  for  the  boy  alone. 

For  a  long  time  the  room  was  absolutely  still. 
Then,  slowly,  Dick  straightened  and  his  wide,  dry 
eyes  searched  his  father's  face.  "  If  I  stay,"  he 
asked,  "  if  I  stay  and  make  pistols,  if  I  work  over 
time,  if  I  do  all  that  my  strength  will  stand,  will  I 
be  doing  a  little  bit  of  my  part?  " 

"What  do  you  think?" 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  121 

"  I'm  asking  you." 

"  But  I'd  rather  you'd  tell  me.  It's  for  you  to 
answer  your  own  conscience  in  this.  I've  shown 
you  your  problem;  it's  for  you  to  solve." 

"  Mr.  Stephen  said  they  needed  men  at  the  plant." 

"  You're  not  to  consider  what  he  said.  You're 
answering  your  country's  need." 

"  I  owe  you  three  — " 

"  You've  more  than  paid  the  Halls,"  broke  in  his 
father ;  "  it's  your  duty  to  your  country  now.  You 
owe  everything  to  her." 

"  But,  father,"  he  begged,  "  help  me !  What  do 
you  want  me  to  do  ?  " 

It  was  almost  more  than  the  man  could  stand. 
But  his  jaw  was  determined  when  he  answered. 
"  I  want  you  to  be  a  man,"  he  said,  "  and  play  a 
man's  part  honestly,  squarely  and  with  head  up.  I 
want  you  to  do  your  duty  as  you  see  it,  and,  which 
ever  thing  you  do,  I'll  give  you  my  hand  and  say 
'  God  bless  you,  boy.' ' 

"  I  know  you  will,"  Dick  said  with  a  quick  gulp ; 


122  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  you're  that  sort.  You're  game  through  and 
through."  His  chair  went  slowly  back  and  slowly 
he  came  to  his  feet,  his  eyes  still  on  his  father's  face. 
"  And  I'll  be  game,"  he  cried.  "  I'll  try  to  be  as 
game  as  you.  I'll  fight  —  here." 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE   MAN    IN    OLIVE  DRAB 

DICK  went  back  to  his  work  in  a  more  contented 
spirit  than  he  had  felt  since  his  experience  with 
Weinberg.  There  was  a  new  incentive  now,  and  he 
felt  a  greater  eagerness  in  assembling  the  guns  it 
would  be  another's  privilege  to  fire.  For  a  night  or 
so  he  was  conscious  that  Stephen  Kendall  was  mak 
ing  more  frequent  rounds  of  the  shops,  and  more 
than  once  the  man  stopped  to  talk  with  him.  Obliv 
ious,  however,  of  Mr.  Kendall's  growing  personal 
interest  in  him,  a  summons  to  the  office  on  the  third 
night  came  almost  as  another  shock. 

But  his  reception  was  the  real  surprise.  "  Come 
on  in,"  said  Mr.  Kendall  kindly.  "  Sometimes  cir 
cumstances  warrant  breaking  all  rules,  and  I  want 
to  talk  of  an  outside  affair  in  your  working  time. 
You  know  young  Tregressor?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

123 


124  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Sit  down  and  tell  me  about  him." 

"  That's  quite  an  order,"  Dick  admitted  with  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye.  "  He's  all  white  and  true  blue." 

"  Where's  the  red  come  in?  " 

It  was  the  first  attempt  at  a  joke  of  which  Dick 
had  known  Mr.  Kendall  to  be  guilty.  It  made  him 
more  at  his  ease.  "  His  blood's  all  red,"  he  flashed 
back ;  "  all  that  he  didn't  spill  in  France." 

"  Could  he  work,  i  f  he  wanted  to  ?  " 

"  He  wants  to  badly  enough,  but  he  says  no  one 
wants  a  one-armed  man  hanging  round." 

"  How  does  he  know  ?     Has  he  tried  for  a  job  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  so." 

"Sure?" 

"  Pretty  sure.  He'd  have  told  me,  I  guess ;  we're 
pals." 

"  Would  you  recommend  him  for  an  important 
position,  one  where  he'd  have  a  good  many  men 
under  him,  and  a  tremendous  responsibility?  " 

"  I'd  trust  him  anywhere,  if  that's  what  you 
mean." 

"  Guess  it's  nearer  what  I  did  mean  than  I  put 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  125 

it,"  confessed  Mr.  Kendall.  "  Dick,"  he  said  in  a 
sober  voice,  after  a  moment's  consideration,  "  we've 
been  tipped  off  to  watch  the  factory  even  more 
closely.  I'm  going  to  establish  a  regular  guard, 
and  it's  not  only  to  be  equipped  for  real  trouble,  but 
ordered  to  go  and  meet  trouble  half  way.  Tregres- 
sor  doesn't  look  like  a  chap  who'd  be  afraid  of  any 
thing  on  two  feet." 

"  Give  him  the  chance,"  begged  Dick.     "  Oh,  do 

give  him  the  chance.     He's  just  the  man  for  the 

• 
job.     He'd  eat  it  alive.     It  would  let  him  stay  here 

with  his  father,  too." 

Mr.  Kendall  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  studied 
the  excited  young  face.  "  It's  a  good  job,"  he  said 
slowly,  "  good  pay  and  certainly  plenty  of  responsi 
bility.  You're  not  the  first  of  my  men  I've  talked 
it  over  with.  I  want  a  man  they'll  all  trust,  for,  if 
they  didn't  trust  him,  they  might  think  he  distrusted 
them  and  was  watching  them.  That  would  make 
trouble  instantly.  Two  out  of  the  four  recom 
mended  you,"  he  added. 

"Me!    When   Dal    Tregressor   is   here?    Me? 


126  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Why,  they're  crazy!     Dai's  the  man  you  want." 

Mr.  Kendall  made  no  effort  to  conceal  his  pleas 
ure.  "  That's  what  I  call  loyalty,"  he  declared, 
"  both  to  your  friend  and  to  us.  There  are  mighty 
few  young  men  who'd  step  aside  like  that,  but  I'll  be 
as  honest  with  you  as  you've  been  with  me.  I  was 
going  to  offer  Tregressor  the  place,  if  you  said  he 
was  all  right.  They  said  you  knew  him  best.  I 
was  going  to  do  it,  though,  because  I'm  not  as  gen 
erous  as  you  are.  I  wanted  you  somewhere  else." 

Dick  flushed  crimson  and  did  his  best  to  stammer 
his  thanks. 

"  I'm  starting  the  home  guard  I  spoke  of  the  other 
night,"  the  man  went  on,  his  hands  clasped  behind 
his  head.  "  I'm  going  to  have  but  one  set  rule ; 
Members  must  be  citizens.  I'll  get  in  the  men  from 
the  factory ;  I  want  you  to  get  the  lads  of  the  Scouts 
who  are  old  enough." 

"  I'll  do  anything  I  can  to  help.  But  it  won't  in 
terfere  with  my  work  in  the  shop,  will  it  ?  I'm  try 
ing  to  do  my  bit  there." 

"  You'll  have  to  do  your  bit  in  a  good  many  places 


OF  KENDALLVILLE     -      127 

before  we're  through  with  this,"  stated  Mr.  Kendall 
soberly;  "we  all  will.  If  it  does  interfere,  you'll 
have  to  find  time  for  it  some  way.  You  can  get  a 
fine  start  with  the  lads  in  your  Beaver  patrol." 

"  Three  have  enlisted,"  stated  Dick  with  pride. 

"  There  are  some  left.  They'll  make  a  strong 
backbone.  You  can  build  around  them,  for  they 
have  learned  how  to  carry  out  orders.  I  want 
twenty  fellows  between  sixteen  and  nineteen.  Can 
you  get  them?" 

"  I  can  try.  That  won't  let  in  Jim  Farnsworth 
and  Nick  Root.  They're  leaders  in  the  younger 
bunch.  They'll  be  sorry  to  be  left  out." 

"  Take  care  of  them  in  some  other  way." 

Dick  thought  for  a  moment.  "  Jim  works  in  this 
office,"  he  ventured.  "  He  does  all  sorts  of  things. 
Why  couldn't  you  let  the  kids  be  sort  of  a  messenger 
company  around  the  shops  and  the  town?  They 
could  wear  their  uniforms  all  the  time,  and  that 
would  give  any  one  a  right  to  ask  them  to  do  any 
thing.  They'd  be  living  up  to  their  Scout  oath." 

"  Fine !     That's  up  to  you,  too.     I  won't  interfere 


128  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

with  that  in  any  way.  Only,  hereafter,  all  our  boys 
in  the  office  are  in  Scout  uniform." 

"  But  some  of  'em  don't  belong,"  ventured  Dick. 

"  Tell  'em  I  want  them  to,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"  If  you'd  just  as  soon,"  said  Dick,  "  I'd  rather 
not.  We  don't  want  members  forced  in." 

"  That's  sound  sense,"  admitted  Mr.  Kendall. 
"  Don't  blame  you.  But  I  reckon  they'll  come  in 
without  either  of  us  saying  anything.  They  are 
good  youngsters  and  they'll  not  only  want  to  wear 
the  uniforms,  but  they'll  be  still  more  anxious  to  do 
their  bit.  You'll  fix  that;  it's  not  worrying  me." 

"I'll  do  my  best,"  promised  Dick.  "We  can 
count  on  most  of  'em,  I'm  sure.  This  home  guard 
thing  won't  mean  that  the  fellows  can't  enlist  in 
the  army,  will  it?  " 

"  Well,  hardly !  About  the  last  thing  I  want,  is 
to  be  strung  up  as  a  traitor.  I'm  thinking  of  the 
United  States  first,  last  and  all  the  time,  but  just  now 
the  Kendall  Arms  Company  seems  to  be  a  vital  bit 
of  the  country.  Figure  it  that  anything  you  do  here 
is  keeping  full  the  line  of  supplies." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  129 

"  I'll  try  to  think  of  it  as  even  more." 

"  You're  not  far  wrong,  either.  A  lot  of  us 
would  find  it  easier  to  do  our  fighting  in  France." 

"  Do  you  really  think  so  ?  "  he  asked  eagerly. 

"  I  know  so.  And,  what's  more,  I  imagine  I  know 
why  Tom  Hall's  boy  isn't  going  across  with  those 
three  friends  of  his." 

Dick  winced,  but,  somehow  or  other,  the  man's 
honesty  and  insight  made  him  strangely  comfort 
able.  "  When  are  you  going  to  tell  Dal  ?  "  he  asked. 

Mr.  Kendall  was  quick  to  understand  his  eager 
ness  to  change  the  subject.  "  Suppose  you  tell  him 
I  want  to  see  him,"  he  suggested.  "  You  might  tell 
him  what  I  want,  too.  You  might  also  tell  your 
father  that  you're  to  be  my  first  lieutenant  in  the 
home  guard.  It  may  interest  him  more  than  it  ap 
peared  to  interest  you." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  I'm  to  be  one  of  the  offi 
cers?"  gasped  Dick. 

"  Exactly." 

"  I'm  too  young.  I've  had  no  experience. 
There're  a  million  reasons  why  I  couldn't." 


130  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"Are  there?"  laughed  Mr.  Kendall  as  he  rose. 
"  Well,  there  are  only  two  reasons  why  you're 
going  to  do  it ;  one's  because  I  want  you ;  the  other's 
because  this  time  the  job's  seeking  the  man.  Now 
go  back  to  work.  We've  both  a  lot  to  do.  But, 
Dick,"  he  called,  as  the  boy  was  going  out,  "  remem 
ber  that  you're  to  come  to  me  if  you  need  help. 
George  North  is  my  second  lieutenant,  and  you're 
to  feel  as  free  as  he  does  to  come  here  at  any 
time." 

If  one  thing  more  had  been  needed  to  con 
vince  Dick  that  he  was  in  the  midst  of  an  as 
tounding  dream  it  was  this  final  announcement. 
George  North,  next  to  the  Kendalls,  was  the 
man  to  whom  all  Kendallville  looked  up.  Mid 
dle-aged,  reserved,  upright,  the  cashier  of  the 
town's  one  bank,  he  was  the  adviser  of  all  who 
were  in  difficulties.  And  now  here  was  he,  Dick 
Hall,  made  the  third  of  a  triumvirate  to  lead 
the  town!  The  men  of  the  factory  were  Ken 
dall's,  the  men  of  the  village,  North's,  and  the 
boys  of  both  had  been  assigned  to  him  to  lead! 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  131 

He  began  to  see  that  background  of  the  Boy 
Scouts. 

He  went  to  work  at  this  new  task  in  characteris 
tic  fashion.  For  a  couple  of  days  none  but  Dal  Tre- 
gressor  knew  the  secret.  But  he  also  kept  his  eyes 
and  ears  open,  and  he  found  himself  studying  the 
chaps  he  had  grown  up  with  through  new  eyes. 

Dal  was  a  constant  inspiration.  Enthusiastic 
over  his  own  chance,  he  was  still  more  enthusiastic 
over  Stephen  Kendall.  He  routed  Dick  out  of  the 
house  late  the  next  afternoon  and  made  him  put 
away  his  book  on  signaling  to  tramp  out  into  the 
country.  "  This  book  stuff's  all  right  in  its  place, 
lad,"  he  said,  "  but  you  and  I've  got  to  give  theory 
the  grand  old  go-by  now,  and  go  over  the  top  at 
practical  things.  The  big  boss  has  told  me  the 
whole  tale.  How  are  you  comin'  on  with  your 
stint?" 

"  Getting  'em  lined  up  in  my  mind,"  he  answered, 
as  they  came  into  the  street.  "  I've  some  good  fel 
lows  and  some  who're  not  worth  a  rap." 

"  Then  put  the  best  of  the  good  ones  over  the  good 


132  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

ones  and  go  at  the  ruck  yourself,  old  son.  You 
want  the  whole  bunch  behind  you." 

"  I  know  it.     I'm  going  to  have  'em." 

"Good  talk,  that!  You'll  get  'em,  if  you  feel 
that  way.  Wish  I  had  you  for  my  second  in  com 
mand." 

"Who've  you  got?" 

"  No  one  yet.  Kendall  came  out,  like  the  gentle 
man  he  is  and  the  officer  he  ought  to  be,  and  said 
he'd  given  me  a  job  and  told  me  to  fill  it  and  not 
bother  him  with  excuses.  We  both  knew  he  ought 
to  have  given  me  more  time  to  organize,  but  I  guess 
that's  up  to  me  now." 

"Gee!" 

"  It's  the  way  to  play  the  game.  Put  a  man  on 
his  own,  if  you  want  him  to  fight.  How  much 
funny-business  am  I  going  to  stand  for  round  that 
fence  when  my  reputation's  at  stake?  Exactly  one 
little  bit  of  none  at  all." 

"  Would  you  shoot  to  kill,  Dal  ?  " 

"  I've  done  it  before  this,"  he  admitted  with  un 
expected  grimness,  "  If  the  Boche  gets  excited 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  133 

round  here,  he'll  find  he  overlooked  one  good  hand." 

"  But  there's  not  so  many  German-Americans 
here  after  all." 

"  Say,  get  over  that,  will  you !  Those  two  words 
don't  mix  any  more.  Either  they're  Americans  or 
they're  Huns.  You  don't  hear  us  Britishers  talk 
ing  about  German-Englishmen  or  German-Can 
adians.  Don't  do  it  here.  A  man's  loyal  to  one 
flag  only." 

"  But  you  fought  under  the  Canadian  and  now 
you're  talking  United  States." 

"  Sure  I  am !  "  agreed  Dal  cheerfully.  "  The  two 
flags  are  going  to  rustle  on  the  same  pole  in  Flan 
ders;  you  bet  I'm  not  going  to  be  the  one  to  un 
twine  'em  over  here.  Hello!  What's  doin'? 
Looks  like  khaki  to  me.  Let's  give  him  the  once 
over  and  the  glad  hand." 

Dick  looked  down  the  street  and  saw  a  half  a 
dozen  men  from  the  night  shift  gathered  about  a 
man  in  olive  drab.  A  soldier  was  a  novelty  in  Ken- 
dallville,  and  the  boy's  blood  tingled  at  the  sight  of 
the  uniform.  "  You  bet  I'll  go ! "  he  agreed. 


134  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Wonder  if  they've  opened  a  recruiting  office 
here?" 

"  Reckon  so.  They  can't  get  at  it  too  soon.  He's 
a  sergeant,"  he  said,  catching  a  glimpse  of  chevrons. 
"  And  an  old  timer,  too.  Look  at  the  set  of  those 
shoulders  and  the  way  he's  got  his  chin  pulled  in. 
Can't  beat  the  regular  non-com,  when  it  comes  to 
side,  swank  and  scrap,  old  top." 

The  soldier  was  talking  with  one  of  the  younger 
men  in  a  low  voice,  answering  his  questions  easily 
but  holding  the  conversation  in  his  chosen  channel. 
Yet  he  was  not  so  engrossed  that  he  did  not  know 
all  that  was  going  on  about  him.  From  the  moment 
Tregressor  and  Hall  had  come  in  sight,  he  had  kept 
them  in  the  corner  of  his  eye,  for  there  was  a  swing 
about  the  Canadian  which  brought  a  smile  to  his 
lips  and  a  spring  to  the  lad's  step  which  made  him 
nod  approvingly. 

"  Hello !  "  exclaimed  Dal  with  a  cordiality  new  to 
all  the  local  men.  "  Gunning  recruits?  " 

The  sergeant  smiled  openly  now.  "  Not  if  I  can 
get  veterans.  Which  outfit' d  you  serve  with?  " 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  135 

Dal  laughed  joyously  as  he  held  out  his  hand. 
"  Glad  to  meet  a  lad  in  uniform,"  he  stated. 
"  Funny,  how  when  you've  once  worn  one,  the  old 
setting-up  stuff  shows  through  anything." 

"  Better  get  back  into  one  again,  old  man.  Go 
ing  to  be  a  lot  doing  over  across." 

"  Wish  I  could,"  said  Dal,  wistfully. 

"  Can  if  you  want.  We're  looking  for  fellows 
like  you  and  your  pal." 

"  Want  to  bad  enough,  but  wanting  won't  get  me 
there.  No  rookie  snatcher'd  wink  at  that."  He 
held  up  his  wristless  left  arm. 

"  Tough  luck ! "  exclaimed  the  sergeant  dis 
appointedly.  "Machine?" 

"  Ah-ah.     Machine  gun." 

"What's  that?"  The  question  came  sharp  and 
terse. 

"  He's  a  veteran  of  the  Princess  Pats,"  said  Dick, 
speaking  for  the  first  time. 

For  just  a  second  the  old  sergeant  looked  at  Dal, 
then  his  heels  clicked  and  his  hand  snapped  up  in 
salute. 


136  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Carry  on !  "  growled  Tregressor,  embarrassed 
beyond  words  at  this  public  tribute.  "  I  only  did  my 
bit." 

"And  a  fine  bit  it  was,  I'll  bet  my  hat!"  cried 
the  American.  "  I  knew  you'd  seen  service,  the 
second  you  rounded  that  corner.  So  you've  been 
where  I'm  going!  Can  you  beat  it?  Say  men," 
he  demanded  looking  about  him,  "  I  ask,  can  you 
beat  it  ?  You  can't.  This  man's  done  the  thing  we 
all  ought  to  be  breaking  our  necks  for  the  chance  to 
do.  Look  him  over.  Is  there  a  live  wire  here  who 
doesn't  want  to  be  like  him?  " 

"Quit  it!"  ordered  Dal.     "I'm  no  side  show." 

"You  bet  you're  not,"  declared  the  sergeant; 
"  you're  the  big  show  in  the  main  tent.  You're  the 
walking,  breathing,  living  image  of  what  these  chaps 
might  be  if  they'd  get  into  olive  drab  instead  of 
greasy  overalls.  We're  going  to  show  the  Kaiser 
some  regiments  the  Princess  Pats  won't  be  ashamed 
to  charge  home  with,"  he  cried.  "  Who's  for  one 
of  'em  ?  Are  you  fellows  going  to  stick  here  mak 
ing  guns  when  you  could  shoot  'em  ?  Who's  going 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  137 

to  be  the  first  to  put  Kendallville  on  the  map  ?  " 

"  Three  of  the  fellows  have  gone  already,"  of 
fered  Dick,  resenting  this  suggestion  that  his  native 
town  was  not  doing  its  share. 

The  sergeant  whirled  around.  It  was  the  chance 
he'd  been  working  for.  "  Friends  of  yours?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Coin'  to  let  'em  fight  while  you  hang  back  and 
talk  about  'em?  Coin'  to  let  somebody  else  carry 
the  old  flag  while  you  stick  round  home  and  sing 
'  The  Star  Spangled  Banner  '  with  the  women  folks  ? 
Well,  that's  being  one  kind  of  soldier.  Only,"  he 
added,  "  you  didn't  size  up  that  way  when  I  first 
caught  you  between  my  sights.  You  looked  like  the 
kind  who'd  step  up  with  the  first  bunch  and  sign 
on." 

Dick,  smarting  under  the  sting  of  the  sergeant's 
tongue,  went  white,  then  red,  then  white  again.  It 
was  only  with  a  great  effort  that  he  controlled  him 
self. 

"  If  fighting's  the  whole  game,"  he  asked, 
facing  the  soldier  squarely,  "  how's  it  happen  you're 


138  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

not  with  your  company?     You  looked,  at  first,  like 
the  sort  who'd  rather  scrap  than  yap." 

The  quick  chuckle  which  rippled  through  the 
crowd  added  to  the  sergeant's  quick  temper  and  he 
stiffened  like  a  ram-rod.  "  A  soldier's  first  duty 
is  to  obey  orders,"  he  retorted,  his  voice  crisp. 
"  My  colonel  detailed  me  to  this  and  we  go  where 
we're  ordered  and  we're  ordered  where  we're  of  the 
most  good." 

"  Maybe  that  works  outside  the  army,"  suggested 
Dick ;  "  Maybe  some  other  people  have  to  do  one 
thing  when  they'd  rather  do  another.  Think  that 
over  before  you  go  shooting  wild." 

"  Are  you  tryin'  to  teach  me  my  business,  young 
feller?" 

Dal  Tregressor's  laugh  rang  out  clear  and  true, 
and  the  anxious  crowd  turned  toward  him  in  utter 
amazement.  "  Looks  like  he's  caught  you  in  the 
wire,  old  son,"  he  cried,  catching  the  soldier's  arm 
with  his  hand  and  tucking  his  other  arm  into  Dick's 
elbow.  "  You  both  think  you're  firing  Jack  John 
sons,  when  all  you're  doing  is  letting  off  flares. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  139 

You're  blowing  up  each  other's  trenches  without  do 
ing  a  bit  of  good.  Turn  off  the  gas,  both  of  you, 
before  you  poison  a  good  field.  You're  starting  a 
raid  before  you're  organized  for  it,  old  fighting 
cock.  Let's  get  right  back  into  the  dug-outs  and 
line  up  your  plan  of  campaign.  Shelling  hornets 
doesn't  bag  Bodies." 

The  sergeant  was  quick  to  recognize  the  sense  of 
this,  and,  already  was  as  sorry  as  the  boy  over  what 
had  occurred.  "  I'd  take  that  only  from  a  chap 
wyho'd  made  good,"  he  acknowledged.  "  Always 
did  talk  too  much.  But  I'm  going  to  talk  a  whole 
lot  more  before  I'm  through  with  you,"  he  promised 
the  crowd,  "  and,  old  Pat,  here,  is  coming  back 
with  me." 

"  I'll  try  anything  once,"  agreed  Tregressor. 
"  Let's  dope  out  a  real  campaign  first,  though." 

"  You're  on !  But,  say,"  exclaimed  the  sergeant 
before  the  three  had  gone  twenty  steps,  "  I'd  started 
out  to  find  an  old  bunkie  when  you  fellows  came 
into  range.  Know  a  chap  named  Tom  Hall  here?  " 

"  I  do,"  admitted  Dick. 


140  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Lead  me  to  him,  son.  He'll  straighten  us  all 
out,  and  give  us  a  fresh  start.  Grandest  old 
scout  who  ever  chawed  a  bean,  Tom.  Know  him 
well?" 

"  Fairly.     He's  my  father." 

The  sergeant  halted  and  his  jaw  dropped  as  he 
looked  Dick  over  from  head  to  foot.  "  Wallop 
me ! "  he  said  disgustedly.  "  Give  me  the  butt 
strike!  Let  me  eat  my  chevrons.  And  me  stand 
ing  there  on  a  soap  box  telling  Tom's  boy  he  was 
afraid  to  fight !  Say,  youngster,  you've  proved  you 
were  a  man  once,  do  it  again.  Shake?  " 

"Sure!"  cried  Dick.  "I  didn't  care  —  much. 
I'd  settled  it  all  with  myself  and  nothing  any  one 
says  matters  much.  But  let's  hurry.  Father  will 
be  wild  to  see  you." 

"  Then  there'll  be  a  couple  of  wild  men  loose  in 
Kendallville.  Hike  along  and  hear  a  real  American 
army  fanning  bee,  Pat.  Last  time  I  saw  Hall  he 
was  perched  on  the  string  piece  of  a  Ponce  wharf, 
batty  with  fever  and  bawlin'  cause  they  wouldn't 
let  him  swim  to  Cuba  and  get  a  fight.  And  me 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  141 

tryin'  to  tell  that  man's  boy  where  he  got  off !  Good 
night!" 

Dal  couldn't  help  laughing  at  the  other's  frank 
disgust,  and,  inside  of  thirty  seconds,  all  three 
were  swinging  up  the  street,  thoroughly  friendly. 
As  they  went  along,  the  sergeant  was  more  and 
more  amazed  to  notice  how  every  one  found  some 
thing  to  say  to  Dick,  and  his  headstrong  action  be 
gan  to  get  back  on  his  nerves.  He  saw  that  this 
youngster  could  make  or  break  his  work  in  the 
village.  But  then  he  remembered  that  it  was 
Tom  Hall's  son,  and  things  began  to  look  rosy 
again. 

"  Hello !  "  he  exclaimed,  breaking  off  in  the  mid 
dle  of  a  story  about  his  old  tent-mate.  "  There's  a 
chap  I've  seen  somewhere." 

Both  Dal  and  Dick  glanced  up.  Toward  them 
came  Jim  Scott,  and,  with  him,  his  hands  em 
phasizing  his  statements,  walked  Weinberg. 

"  What  are  they  doing  out  of  the  factory  this 
time  of  day?  "  queried  Dick. 

"  Search   me !  "   replied   Dal.     "  Maybe   they've 


142  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

been  transferred  to  the  night  shift.  Heard  the  boss 
was  planning  some  changes." 

"  Then  there's  trouble  ahead  for  me,"  prophesied 
the  boy. 

"  What's  wrong?  Say,  I've  sure  run  across  that 
guy  somewhere.  Never  could  place  faces.  What's 
his  name  ?  " 

"  Scott." 

The  soldier  shook  his  head  but  his  eyes  remained 
fixed  on  Jim.  As  the  two  parties  came  together,  the 
sergeant  hesitated,  as  if  about  to  speak,  but  Scott 
looked  at  him  squarely,  and,  with  a  gruff  "  Hello!  " 
to  Tregressor,  walked  past. 

"  Sure  didn't  know  me,"  admitted  the  sergeant. 
"  But  I'll  bet  a  week's  pay  I  saw  that  gink  hanging 
round  a  strike  riot  we  discouraged  out  Idaho  way. 
I  can  almost  locate  him,  but  his  name  wasn't  Scott 
there.  It  was  Delaney,  or  Delancy,  or  something 
like  that.  Who's  that  he's  with  ?  Looks  like  a  Ger 
man." 

"Weinberg;  foreman  in  the  Kendall  finishing 
room." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  143 

• 

"Say!"  he  exclaimed.  "What  are  those  fel 
lows  doing,  sleeping  on  their  backs  ?  This  isn't  the 
time  to  let  Germans  make  our  guns." 

"  He's  been  in  town  some  time,"  announced  Tre- 
gressor.  "  I  felt  the  same  way  at  first.  He's  been 
in  this  country  some  years,  though;  says  he's  for 
the  U.  S.  against  the  Vaterland." 

"  You  believe  it,  do  you  ?  Well,  you've  fought 
'em;  I've  only  read  about  'em.  But,  believe  me,  if 
I  saw  Delaney  and  a  German  talking  together  in 
my  town  I'd  keep  an  eye  peeled  every  minute  of 
all  the  time,  'specially  if  there  happened  to  be  a 
munitions  plant  handy." 

"  If  you  mean  Scott,  he's  all  right,"  asserted  Dal. 
"  You've  mixed  him  up  with  some  one  else." 

"  Not  on  your  life,  Pat !  I've  got  him  fixed  with 
that  strike  sure.  I'll  remember  the  rest  before  long. 
I  remember  that  face  now.  If  he  wasn't  a  crook, 
he  was  mixed  up  with  the  other  crooks  some  way." 

"  Dick  knows  him  better  than  I  do.  He's  all 
right,  isn't  he  ?  "  he  asked  the  boy. 

But,  for  once,  Dick  Hall  had  nothing  to  say. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

AN   ULTIMATUM 

IF  Dick  found  nourishment  for  thought  in  Ser 
geant  Baker's  near-recognition  of  Scott,  he  found  a 
more  personal  mental  meal  in  Dai's  announcement 
that  Weinberg  had  been  transferred  to  the  night 
shift.  For  weeks  the  man  had  appeared  unaware 
of  his  existence,  yet,  whenever  Dick  had  chanced 
to  meet  him  on  the  street,  he  was  conscious  of  the 
keen  eyes  watching  him  slyly  and  he  knew  that 
Weinberg  was  not  the  sort  to  accept  such  a  slight 
as  Mr.  Kendall  had  put  upon  him  without  some 
attempt  at  revenge. 

For  this  reason  he  was  all  the  more  surprised 
when  young  Oscar  Weinberg  sidled  up  to  him  on 
the  street  that  very  night. 

"  'Lo,  Dick!     How's  the  boy?  "  he  greeted. 

"  Able  to  eat  soft  food,"  retorted  Dick  with  his 
usual  good  nature. 

144 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS  145 

"That's  good."  Oscar  fell  into  step.  "Going 
down  to  the  grocery,"  he  announced.  "  The  old 
man's  been  put  on  the  night  shift  and  needs  cheese 
for  his  supper.  He's  a  full-blooded  cheese  hound, 
my  old  man.  I'll  stroll  along  with  you,  if  you 
don't  mind." 

"Come  ahead,"  was  the  indifferent  reply;  "it's 
a  public  street." 

It  was  not  exactly  the  answer  young  Weinberg 
had  hoped  for,  but  he  was  clever  enough  to  realize 
it  was  the  sort  he  deserved.  "  Say,"  he  exclaimed 
bluntly,  "  you  licked  me  good  once ;  my  old  man 
came  back  at  you  with  a  knock-out.  Let's  call  it 
quits.  I  don't  want  any  more  trouble  with  you, 
Dick." 

;<  You're  not  likely  to  have  it,  unless  you  start 
it." 

"  I've  never  started  anything,"  he  answered.  "  I 
like  to  be  friends  with  every  one." 

"  Good  idea." 

"  Yeah,"  Oscar  agreed,  "  'specially  now.  Say, 
Dick,  you  don't  know  how  rotten  it  is  to  have  a 


146  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

German  name.  Every  one  thinks  you're  not  an 
American." 

"  Wouldn't  be  exactly  healthy  for  you  round  here, 
if  you  weren't." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  There  was  a  scarcely 
hidden  note  of  anxiety  in  the  question. 

"  Guess  you  know  as  well  as  I  do." 

"  No  one  would  start  anything,  would  he  ?  " 

"If  any  one  did,  he'd  find  plenty  of  chaps  here 
ready  to  finish  it." 

"  You  mean  the  home  guard  Kendall's  organiz 
ing?"  asked  Weinberg. 

"  Perhaps.  Possibly  the  crowd  Dal  Tregressor's 
gathered  would  lend  a  willing  hand." 

"  No  one  expects  any  trouble  here,  do  they  ?  " 

"  Not's  I  know.  But  I  guess  Mr.  Kendall's  fig 
ured  it's  better  to  be  prepared  than  sorry." 

"  That's  Boy  Scout  stuff,  isn't  it?  "  queried  Oscar. 

"  Come  to  think  of  it,  partly.  Good  deal  of  Boy 
Scout  *  stuff '  appears  to  be  general  now-days." 

"  Hear  Jim  Farnsworth  and  Nick  are  wearing 
their  uniforms  round  the  factory." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          147 

"  All  the  members  of  the  younger  patrols  are  to 
be  in  uniform  from  now  on.  Any  one  can  call  on 
any  of  'em  for  anything  they  want,  which  has 
anything  to  do  with  the  country  or  the  town." 

"Any  chance  for  a  fellow  to  join?  I'd  like  to 
do  my  bit." 

Dick  looked  at  the  boy  in  frank  amazement. 
"  Thought  you  claimed  we  were  jokes,"  he  said. 

"  Got  to  do  something.  Don't  want  to  be  the  only 
guy  in  town  who's  not  helping  his  country.  Take 
me  into  the  home  guard,  if  you  won't  let  me  into  the 
Scouts." 

"  You're  too  young.  Anyway,  I  didn't  say  you 
couldn't  join  the  Scouts.  Any  fellow  can,  who's 
square  and  will  live  up  to  the  oath.  We're  not  ex 
clusive,  we're  inclusive." 

"  Can  I  really  get  in  ?  Can  I  ?  "  Oscar  appeared 
as  delighted  as  he  was  excited. 

"  Better  talk  with  Mr.  Tregressor ;  he'll  fix  it  for 
you.  My  patrol's  full." 

"  Carter,  Defoe  and  old  Longshanks  have  left 
town." 


148  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  You  can  count  on  one  thing,"  declared  Dick, 
"  and  that's  that  they  are  still  members  and  are 
playing  the  game." 

"  Can  I  wear  a  uniform  and  do  errands,  if  I'm 
taken  in?" 

"  You  can  do  what  all  of  us  are  doing, —  our  bit." 

"  Me  for  it !  "  declared  Oscar.  "  When's  the  best 
time  to  see  Mr.  Tregressor?  " 

"  He's  at  home  every  evening.  You  can  tell  him 
I  sent  you." 

"  I'll  do  that  little  thing.  I  knew  you'd  be  the 
chap  to  see.  Later,  you'll  take  me  into  the  guard, 
I'll  bet." 

"  I'd  try  one  thing  at  a  time,"  advised  Dick. 
"  You'll  find  the  Scouts'll  keep  you  busy  enough, 
if  you're  in  earnest." 

"  Watch  me,"  he  promised.  "  Here's  the  cheese 
cage.  So  long !  "  He  waved  his  hand  and  darted 
into  the  store. 

While  Oscar  Weinberg  was  apparently  satisfied, 
Dick  was  not.  He  believed  Oscar  still  held  a 
grudge  against  him,  was  quite  sure  there  was  some- 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          149 

thing  behind  this  open  attempt  to  bury  the  hatchet. 
Then  came  sudden  shame.  Why  should  he,  who 
was  trying  so  hard  to  do  his  part,  look  suspiciously 
on  another  fellow's  effort?  He  felt  like  going  back 
and  apologizing  to  Oscar  for  doubting  his  will 
ingness  to  do  his  bit,  would  have  done  so,  had  not 
the  roar  of  the  factory  whistle  sent  him  flying 
through  the  gates  to  avoid  being  late. 

He  stopped  abruptly,  eyes  and  mouth  wide  open, 
as  the  barrel  of  a  repeating  shot  gun  was  banged 
against  his  chest.  "  Get  back  there,"  commanded 
a  gruff  voice ;  "  show  your  pass." 

With  an  effort,  he  pulled  his  shocked  nerves  to 
gether  and  looked  up  at  the  man  behind  the  gun. 
"  Why  don't  you  scare  a  fellow  to  death  ? "  he 
asked. 

"Where's  that  pass?" 

"  Quit  joshing  and  let  me  through.  I'm  almost 
late." 

"  Produce  that  pass,  or  move !  "  This  time  the 
voice  was  crisp.  Dick  made  a  hasty  search  for  the 
thin  leather  case  containing  his  identification  card. 


150  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  There  it  is,"  he  said,  holding  it  out.  "  But  for 
the  love  of  Mike,  don't  be  such  a  chump!  You 
know  me  well  enough;  now  I'm  late." 

"  Serves  you  jolly  well  right,  too,"  announced 
Dal  Tregressor,  coming  up.  "  My  men  are  on  the 
job  now  and  don't  any  of  you  people  monkey  with 
'em,  unless  you're  looking  for  big  action." 

"  But  have  a  little  sense,  Dal.  When  you  all 
know  a  fellow  — " 

"  We  know  a  fellow  at  this  fence  when  we  see 
his  card,  and  not  till  then.  I've  been  put  on  a  job, 
son,  and  I'm  responsible.  Now  go  on  in  and  tell 
'em  you're  late  'cause  you  got  gay  with  a  man  be 
hind  a  riot  gun." 

"  And  be  guyed  by  the  whole  bunch  ?  Not 
much!" 

"  That's  up  to  you,"  chuckled  Dal.  "  Hope  you 
get  a  little  discipline  in  the  Aunt  Lizzies  some  day." 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  the  Aunt  Lizzies,"  Dick 
laughed  over  his  shoulder.  "  We'll  have  as  good 
an  outfit  in  the  home  guard  as  you've  got  in  the 
Mill  Yard  Terriers." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          151 

"  Hope  neither  of  us  have  to  prove  it,  old  son," 
Dal  called  after  him.  "  Look  me  up  in  lunch  hour." 

The  more  Dick  thought  over  the  incident,  the  more 
it  tickled  him.  There  was  no  possible  question 
about  Dal  making  good.  He  felt  sorry  for  any 
trouble-maker  who  ran  foul  of  the  new  organiza 
tion.  He  was  even  more  pleased  at  having  coun 
tered  that  reference  to  the  home  guard  as  "  the 
Aunt  Lizzies  "  by  dubbing  Dai's  outfit  the  "  Ter 
riers,"  for  he  was  clever  enough  to  realize  that  both 
names  would  stick  and  that  they  might  become  the 
basis  of  a  very  healthy  rivalry  between  the  two  or 
ganizations. 

His  thoughts  in  this  direction  came  to  an  abrupt 
end,  however,  as  he  came  face  to  face  with  Wein- 
berg  when  he  was  hurrying  through  the  finishing 
room  on  his  way  to  his  own  department.  The  big 
man  made  no  attempt  to  get  out  of  his  path  and  the 
boy  was  forced  to  stop.  "  What  is  it  that  you  do 
here  ?  "  he  demanded  sharply. 

"  On  my  way  to  my  work." 

"  Then  go  by  the  proper  route.     I  will  not  have 


152  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

you  about  my  department.  Here,  at  least,  I  am  of 
authority.  I  am  not  burned  twice  by  the  same  little 
fire." 

It  was  more  than  the  lad  could  stand,  and,  then 
and  there,  he  decided  to  have  it  out  with  Weinberg 
for  all  time.  "  Glad  we  feel  the  same  way  about 
it,"  he  retorted.  "  You're  not  over  me  and  you're 
going  to  put  nothing  over  on  me.  If  anything  was 
stolen  from  your  office,  it  must  have  been  of  mighty 
little  value,  or  you'd  have  carried  out  the  bluff  and 
tried  to  get  it  back.  You've  got  it  in  for  me  because 
my  father  sized  you  up,  crack  off  the  bat,  and  you're 
trying  to  settle  that.  As  for  my  licking  Oscar,  he's 
been  man  enough  to  drop  it  and  offer  to  be  friends ; 
now  you  cut  it  out.  You've  nothing  to  do  with 
me  and  I  certainly  want  nothing  to  do  with  you." 

Weinberg's  expression  grew  black  and  he  took  a 
quick  step  forward,  as  if  to  lay  hands  on  the  boy. 
Then  he  straightened  to  his  full  stature  and  an  ugly 
sneer  spread  over  his  square  face.  "  So ! "  he 
hissed.  "  It  is  that  you  accuse  me  of  the  lie !  You 
say  that  to  repay  a  boyish  brutality,  I  stole  from 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          153 

myself,  that  I  might  accuse  you.  You  shall  learn 
now  how  a  man  should  guard  his  honor.  Come 
with  me  to  Mr.  Kendall." 

If  he  had  expected  Dick  to  show  fear,  even  to 
wince  at  the  threat,  he  was  grievously  surprised. 
"Come  with  you  to  no  one!"  Dick  retorted  with 
open  contempt.  "  I'm  taking  no  orders  from  you, 
and,  what's  more,  you  can't  make  good  on  that  bluff. 
Get  out  of  my  way;  I'm  late  enough  without  wast 
ing  time." 

With  that  he  pushed  past  the  astonished  foreman 
and  went  toward  his  own  room,  whistling  as  if  noth 
ing  had  occurred.  Coming  in  so  late,  it  was  neces 
sary  for  him  to  buckle  down  to  work,  and,  in  his 
interest  in  keeping  up  with  his  schedule,  he  forgot 
Weinberg  and  his  threat.  For  that  reason  his 
surprise  was  doubly  great  when  the  machines  stopped 
at  midnight  and  Jim  Scott  sauntered  up  to  him. 

"  Why  the  ingrowing  grouch  of  late,  youngster?  " 
he  asked  with  all  his  old  friendliness.  "  Being  made 
one  of  the  big  chiefs  in  the  home  guard  swelled  you 
all  out  of  shape? " 


154  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Here  was  a  situation  which  the  boy  did  not  know 
how  to  meet.  He  had  wiped  Scott's  name  from  his 
slate  because  it  seemed  certain,  after  Sergeant 
Baker's  recognition,  that  there  was  a  seamy  side  to 
Scott's  past  which  dovetailed  with  his  own  suspicion 
and  convinced  him  that  there  was  something  queer 
about  this  mysterious  chap.  Baker,  too,  had  told 
how,  when  he  had  tried  to  get  into  another  con 
versation  with  the  man,  he  still  insisted  that  he  was 
not  Delaney.  Days  before,  Dick  had  concluded  that 
the  only  way  was  to  leave  Scott  severely  alone.  It 
was  not  only  the  kindest  thing,  but  the  safest  for  all 
concerned.  Now  Scott  was  forcing  himself  for 
ward,  a  thing  he  had  never  done  before  in  Kendall- 
ville. 

Reluctantly,  Dick  laid  down  the  gun  he  held  and 
k)oked  up  into  the  half  serious  face.  "  I  don't  feel 
swelled  up,"  he  asserted,  "  and  I've  certainly  no 
grouch  against  the  general  public." 

"  But  a  fine  young  one  against  me.  All  right, 
nurse  it  along,  if  it  will  get  you  anywhere.  Only," 
he  added  seriously,  "  be  sure  it's  going  to  get  you 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          155 

somewhere.  Doesn't  pay,  if  it  won't,  any  more 
than  going  out  of  your  way  hunting  trouble." 

"  I'd  rather  hunt  trouble  than  duck  it." 

Scott  glanced  at  the  cool  young  face  and  smiled. 
"  I  guess  you  would,"  he  agreed,  "  only  you've  a 
heap  to  learn  about  hunting  it.  Now,  what's  the  big 
idea  in  this  new  run-in  with  Weinberg?  Call  it  off, 
before  you  mess  everything  up." 

"  The  only  thing  that's  apt  to  get  messed  up's 
Weinberg,"  declared  Dick ;  "  I've  stood  all  I'm  going 
to  from  him.  This  is  where  he  butts  out  for  keeps. 
I'm  not  under  him  and  I'm  not  going  to  take  any 
more  talk  from  him.  If  he  sent  you  here,  go  back 
and  tell  him  to  make  good.  I'm  not  afraid  of 
him." 

"  Suppose  he  didn't  send  me  here  ?  "  suggested 
Jim.  "  Suppose  I  just  came  to  you  on  my  own 
hook,  and  asked  you  not  to  start  a  big  row.  Sup 
pose  I  had  almighty  good  reasons  for  doing  it,  but 
wanted  to  keep  them  under  my  hat  for  awhile  ?  " 

"I'd  keep  'em  there  then,"  Dick  retorted;  "they 
don't  interest  me." 


156  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  They  might  —  you  and  a  lot  of  other  people. 
I  want  this  thing  dropped,  Dick.  I  know  what  will 
happen,  if  you  push  it,  and  it  mustn't  happen." 

"Why?"  he  asked  coldly. 

"  You  told  me  to  keep  my  reasons  under  my 
hat,"  Jim  reminded  him;  "I'll  take  your  advice; 
take  mine,  it's  good ;  drop  it;  let  Weinberg  alone." 

The  boy  turned  squarely  on  him.  "  Is  it  going 
to  save  you  from  a  mess  if  I  do?  "  he  asked. 

"  It's  going  to  save  me  from  a  whole  lot  of  worry 
if  you  cut  it  out,"  answered  Scott  ambiguously. 

"  You  didn't  care  much  about  my  feelings  when 
you  let  me  take  the  gaff.  You've  got  a  crust  to  ask 
me  to  stand  much  more.  If  he's  got  the  goods  on 
you,  fight  it  out  with  him.  Don't  mix  me  up  in  it 
again ;  I'm  through  being  the  goat." 

Scott's  jaw  squared  and  his  keen  eyes  flashed  dan 
gerously.  "  Why,  you  poor  simp !  "  he  exclaimed, 
"  do  you  think  I'd  ask  you  to  cover  my  tracks  ?  Do 
you  think  I'd  come  whimpering  to  you  if  Weinberg 
had  the  goods  on  me?  I  can  do  my  own  personal 
fighting,  thanks." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  157 

"  Then  go  do  it." 

To  the  boy's  astonishment,  the  anger  vanished 
from  Scott's  face  as  quickly  as  it  had  flared  up.  He 
began  to  laugh.  "  You  sure  got  one  dandy  rise  out 
of  me!  Guess  things  are  getting  on  my  nerves. 
Sorry." 

K'S  all  right,"  agreed  Dick  gruffly,  still  at  a 
complete  loss. 

"  Good !  Forget  it,  along  with  Weinberg.  I'll 
explain  later." 

"  I  won't  forget  Weinberg.  I've  told  you  once 
that  I've  taken  all  I'm  going  to  from  him.  He's 
forced  this,  and  I'm  going  to  see  that  he  puts  it 
through.  He's  got  to  prove  I'm  a  thief,  or  acknowl 
edge  he's  a  liar.  That's  final." 

Scott  met  his  defiant  gaze  evenly,  then  slowly 
shook  his  head.  "  I'm  blamed  sorry  you  don't  trust 
me,"  he  said,  "  blamed  sorry.  You're  going  to 
make  a  pile  of  trouble." 

"  I'm  going  to  stop  people  from  calling  me  a 
thief,"  Dick  corrected. 

"  For  the  last  time,  I  ask  you  not  to  force  things." 


158  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

This  time  Dick's  own  jaw  squared.  "  I've  given 
you  my  answer,"  he  stated;  "it's  Weinberg  or 
me." 

For  perhaps  ten  seconds,  Scott  looked  at  him, 
then,  with  a  shrug,  turned  away.  "  It's  up  to  you," 
he  said.  "  You're  starting  something  which  may 
be  too  big  for  us  all  to  stop." 

Dick  watched  him  go  in  silence.  He  had  no  re 
gret  over  the  stand  he  had  taken.  He  had  gone 
through  fire  blindly  for  Stephen  Kendall;  any  one 
else  would  have  to  give  him  better  reasons  for  put 
ting  himself  in  a  compromising  position  than  Scott 
had  done.  It  had  all  been  as  vague  as  it  was  dis 
tasteful,  and  Dick  was  astounded  that  Jim  had  had 
the  audacity  to  approach  him  with  such  mist-hung 
requests.  It  added  nothing  to  his  valuation  of  the 
man,  yet,  in  spite  of  it  all,  he  still  felt  that  same 
inexplicable  liking  for  him. 

One  effect  the  incident  did  have,  however.  It  left 
the  boy  with  a  desire  to  be  alone.  For  this  reason 
he  ate  his  lunch  at  the  bench,  and  did  not  hunt  up 
Dal.  Somehow  or  other,  he  felt  he  could  not  play 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          159 

a  whole-hearted  part  in  the  jokes  he  knew  Dal 
would  start  about  the  two  guards. 

Yet  others  had  not  been  as  inactive.  Hardly 
had  the  machines  started  before  a  message  came  for 
Dick  to  report  in  the  office.  Dropping  his  work, 
he  found  old  Robinson,  told  him  of  the  summons 
and  started  for  the  other  building. 

This  time  he  gave  little  thought  as  to  why  he 
had  been  sent  for.  He  took  it  for  granted  that  Mr. 
Kendall  had  some  new  plan  for  the  guard,  and 
wanted  to  get  it  under  way,  so  that  all  might  be 
working  smoothly  when  the  company  was  called 
out  for  the  first  time.  The  surprise  was  all  the 
greater  when  he  found  Weinberg  standing  in  silence 
by  Mr.  Kendall's  desk.  "  You  sent  for  me,  sir  ?  " 
he  said. 

"  Yes,"  came  the  quiet  answer,  but  it  was  not  fol 
lowed  by  the  now  customary  invitation  to  pull  a 
chair  close  to  the  desk.  "  Mr.  Weinberg  says  that 
he  has  a  complaint  to  make  against  you,  Hall.  As 
he  states  that  it  is  serious,  I  thought  it  but  just  to 
you  both  that  he  make  it  before  you." 


160  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

The  boy  nodded  gravely,  but,  as  he  turned  toward 
Weinberg,  he  saw  an  expression,  far  different  from 
the  indignation  he  had  expected,  steal  across  the  fore 
man's  face.  It  was  a  look  such  as  might  have  come 
to  the  eyes  of  some  slinking  wild  beast  long  held 
from  its  prey,  but  now  at  last  sure  that  its  victim 
was  in  reach  of  its  claws.  The  next  instant  the 
big,  powerful  features  were  again  normal  and  the 
awaited  anger  flared. 

"  This  I  shall  not  tolerate,"  he  exclaimed  indig 
nantly.  "  It  is  the  right  of  a  foreman  to  have  the 
confidence  of  his  employer." 

"  Nevertheless,  Weinberg,  you  will  grant  me  the 
right  to  conduct  this  factory  according  to  my  own 
ideas,"  came  the  calm  retort.  "  If  you  care  to 
proceed,  you  may." 

"  If  it  was  that  I  am  a  maker  of  trouble,"  con 
tinued  Weinberg,  "  I  should  refuse  on  the  in 
stant.  I  have  worked  here  two  years;  I  have 
done  work  that  was  good.  I  know  well  the 
trouble  which  would  come  to  the  company  in 
this,  the  hour  of  its  need,  if  I  should  do  as  some 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          161 

men  would  do  and  throw  the  gage  of  battle  at  your 
feet." 

"  Urn !     Come  to  the  point." 

"  It  is  because  I  have  done  what  I  have  done  and 
am  what  I  am  that  I  shall  no  longer  tolerate  the  in 
solence  of  that  boy.  This  night  he  came  into  my 
department  and  told  me  to  my  face  that  I  uttered 
lies.  Is  it  that  the  Kendall  Arms  Company  con 
siders  that  the  proper  conduct  of  its  affairs  permits 
such  insults  to  its  foremen  ?  " 

Stephen  Kendall  wheeled  about  in  his  swivel 
chair.  "  What  have  you  to  say  for  yourself, 
Hall?" 

"  That's  he's  told  the  truth  as  far  as  he's  gone," 
he  stated,  disgusted  at  such  a  false  statement  of  fact, 
and  determined  now  to  see  the  thing  to  the  end,  in 
spite  of  Jim  Scott  or  any  one.  "  I  was  going 
through  the  finishing  department  because  I  was  late 
and  was  taking  the  shortest  way.  He  stopped  me 
and  again  accused  me  of  being  a  thief.  I  told  him 
that  he  couldn't  make  good  on  that  old  bluff  and 
he  threatened  what's  happened  now.  If  it's  not 


162  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

asking  too  much,  Mr.  Kendall,  let's  have  this  steal 
ing  stuff  settled  for  good.  He  claims  I've  stolen 
something ;  what's  he  lost  ?  " 

"  That  seems  a  perfectly  fair  question,  Wein- 
berg,"  he  demanded ;  "  answer  it." 

For  the  fraction  of  a  second  the  thick  lips  parted 
but  then  the  big  head  shot  forward.  "  My  watch 
and  chain,"  he  answered. 

To  Stephen  Kendall's  amazement,  Dick  laughed. 
"  You  must  have  forgotten  to  re-steal  it,  Weinberg ; 
the  chain's  hanging  out  of  your  pocket." 

"  It's  another  watch  and  chain.  See,  again,"  he 
flared,  "  he  calls  me  not  only  a  liar,  but  this  time  a 
thief  from  myself.  Always  he  has  tried  to  make 
trouble  for  me;  I  am  through  with  it.  I  demand 
his  discharge." 

"  You  what  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Kendall  sharply. 

"  I  demand  his  instant  discharge." 

"  Oh !  I  thought  I  might  have  misunderstood 
that  word  the  first  time." 

"  I  use  it  in  the  full  strength  of  it." 

"  Then  you've  made  a  second  false  step.     We've 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  163 

never  listened  to  a  '  demand  '  from  a  workman  yet; 
I  don't  intend  to  begin  now." 

Weinberg  squared  around,  his  bluster  gone,  his 
whole  attitude  as  cool  as  that  of  the  man  he  faced. 
;'  That  boy  shall  be  discharged,"  he  stated, 
"or—" 

"  Never  mind  the  threat,"  broke  in  Stephen  Ken 
dall  sharply.  "  He's  proved  you  a  liar  once ;  you've 
no  need  to  endorse  the  charge.  You're  the  one 
who's  discharged." 

It  was  Weinberg  who  laughed  this  time,  and  it 
was  laughter  which  contained  both  contempt  and 
triumph.  "  You  make  the  issue  at  a  time  when  it  is 
to  you  critical,"  he  declared.  "  My  men  shall  have 
an  answer  to  this,  your  high  handed  methods.  We 
shall  test  out  your  so  valiant-strength.  There  are 
men,  wiser  far  than  you,  who  listen  to  my  word." 

Mr.  Kendall  came  to  his  feet  and  his  eyes  met 
those  of  the  threatening  workman  unflinchingly. 
"  If  you're  threatening  a  walk-out,"  he  said,  "  you're 
wasting  breath.  I  know  my  men.  If  you're  merely 
threatening  trouble,  you've  come  to  the  right  place 


164  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

to  find  it.     Get  out  of  here;  we're  through  with 
you." 

"  Aufwiedersehen! "    corrected    Weinberg    and 
walked  out  of  the  office. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE   MARCH    PAST 

FOR  once,  at  least,  Weinberg's  word  proved  good. 
Twenty  men  of  the  day  shift  walked  out  during 
the  next  morning.  The  old  residents  of  Kendall- 
ville  were  ablaze  with  resentment,  and  real  trouble 
might  have  come  on  the  instant  from  what  they 
called  disloyalty  to  the  government,  had  not  old 
"  Bullet  "  Kendall  himself  passed  out  the  word  that 
nothing  would  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  the 
running  of  the  plant.  When  "  Bullet "  spoke,  Ken- 
dallville  had  learned  to  sit  back,  and  wait  in  si 
lence. 

If  Weinberg  could  show  such  unexpected  strength 
among  the  day  force,  all  wondered  what  might  hap 
pen  when  six  o'clock  came,  and  the  big  majority  of 
the  new  employees  were  put  to  the  test.  If  they 
backed  up  the  now  invisible  ex-foreman,  the  Ken- 

165 


166  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

dall  company  would  be  hard  pressed  to  live  up  to 
its  contracts.  Every  day  counted,  and  every  one  in 
the  village  knew  how  heavy  that  count  was. 

At  noon  Stephen  Kendall's  gray  racing  car  came 
rushing  down  from  the  great  house  on  the  hill,  the 
owner  himself  at  the  wheel.  If  they  had  expected 
old  "  Bullet "  to  choose  the  field  for  any  possible 
action,  they  were  certain  that  Stephen  would  pro 
vide  that  action.  It  began  to  look  as  if  things  were 
about  to  happen. 

The  first  surprise  came  when  the  big  car  slid  to  a 
stop  in  front  of  George  North's  bank  and  Mr.  Ken 
dall  went  in,  his  step  as  jaunty,  and  his  smile  as 
carefree  as  if  he  had  not  spent  the  entire  morning  at 
the  long  distance  instead  of  in  sleep.  Then  came 
another  rumor  on  the  heels  of  the  multitude  already 
afloat,  and  it  was  followed  by  Mr.  North's  appear 
ance  on  the  street.  Soon  boys  in  the  uniforms  of 
Scouts  began  to  weave  in  and  out  of  the  little 
crowds,  whispering  a  word  here  and  a  command 
there.  Dick  Hall,  too,  had  had  his  orders  and  they 
were  being  swiftly  spread  by  the  youngsters,  who 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  167 

had  dropped  everything  at  the  urgent  call.  Yet, 
with  all  this  undercurrent,  all  that  any  one  knew 
was  that  the  home  guard  was  called  to  meet  that 
afternoon.  There  could  be  nothing  revolutionary 
in  that ;  old  "  Bullet "  was  too  canny  to  risk  the 
suppression  of  possible  riots  to  a  quickly  gathered, 
and  more  quickly  instructed,  counter-mob. 

It  was  nearly  four  o'clock  when  between  twenty 
and  twenty-five  men  were  seen  straggling  through 
the  factory  gates.  The  strikers  greeted  them  with 
a  wild  yell,  but  it  quickly  died  away  when  they  were 
recognized  as  amongst  the  oldest  of  the  Kendall  men. 
Without  comment,  they  strolled  on  down  the  street 
and  entered  the  town  hall.  Hardly  had  they  dis 
appeared  before  George  North  came  out  of  the 
bank,  and  turned  in  the  same  direction.  A  dozen 
of  the  storekeepers  and  their  clerks  followed.  Then 
boys  in  khaki  began  to  appear  and  then  to  dis 
appear  into  the  old  white  building.  Of  them  all, 
Dick,  the  root  of  the  trouble,  was  the  only  one  to 
be  greeted  with  a  jeer,  as  he  came  running  down 
from  a  quick  conference  with  the  calm  old  min- 


168  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

ister  who  saw  his  training  bearing  good  fruit  once 
more. 

Probably  there  were  sixty  in  the  hall  when 
Stephen  Kendall  suddenly  stepped  out  on  the  plat 
form.  "  Attention ! "  he  commanded  crisply. 
"  We've  a  good  deal  to  do." 

His  bearing,  more  than  his  tone,  brought  an  in 
stantaneous  hush.  Men  dropped  into  the  nearest 
chairs.  Stephen  Kendall  came  nearer  the  edge  of 
the  platform.  "  Kendallville  was  among  the  first," 
he  announced,  "  to  take  up  this  idea  of  forming  a 
home  guard.  That  we've  been  slow  in  organizing 
has  been  due  to  my  negligence,  but,  before  a  formal 
step  is  taken,  my  father  and  I  wish  it  distinctly 
understood  that  no  untoward  event  is  behind  this 
meeting.  The  Kendalls  will  guard  their  own." 

"  We're  behind  you,  Steve,  if  any  of  them  start 
anything." 

Kendall  turned  quickly,  located  the  speaker  and 
frowned.  "  I  know  you  are,  Harry,"  he  stated, 
"  but  we're  here  to  think  of  bigger  things  than  the 
individual." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  169 

"  You're  boss,  Steve.     We'll  follow  you." 

"  But  say  the  word,  when  you  want  something 
started,  old  man." 

"  Three  cheers  for  Mr.  Kendall !  "  thrilled  a  boy 
ish  treble. 

The  cheers  came  with  a  vim  and  at  least  served  as 
a  vent  for  pent  up  emotions.  As  the  noise  died  out, 
Mr.  Kendall's  voice  again  rose  sharply.  "  Let's  get 
down  to  business,"  he  half  suggested,  half  com 
manded.  "  Some  thought  I  should  act  as  cap 
tain  — " 

"You  bet!" 

"  Make  it  unanimous." 

"  Three  cheers  for  Capt.  Kendall." 

Again  the  noise  drowned  the  speaker's  voice  but 
the  flush  which  came  over  his  handsome  face  showed 
his  honest  pleasure  in  this  proof  of  their  confidence. 
"  Richard  Hall  and  George  North  have  been  sug 
gested  as  lieutenants." 

It  was  the  men  from  the  factory  who  led  the 
demonstration  this  time.  "  I  take  it  these  selec 
tions  meet  approval,"  said  Mr.  Kendall  with  a  smile. 


170  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  We'll  go  ahead  with  this  organization.  George, 
you  and  Dick  come  up  here." 

It  would  be  hard  to  say  whether  the  diffident 
banker  or  the  modest  factory  lad  was  the  more  un 
comfortable  over  the  second  demonstration  which 
greeted  their  march  to  the  platform.  For  the  first 
time  Dick  began  to  suspect  that  he  had  a  good  many 
friends,  and  it  gave  him  a  comfortable  feeling  inside 
and  a  confidence  in  himself  which  made  his  step 
firmer. 

"  My  idea,"  Mr.  Kendall  began  again,  "  is  to 
start  with  sixty  members,  but  our  limit  will  be  one 
hundred.  We  will  have  drills  twice  a  week.  Serv 
ice  is  entirely  voluntary.  Each  man  who  signs  the 
muster  roll  agrees  to  obey  the  commands  of  his 
superiors  and  observe  military  discipline.  Failure 
to  do  this  will  result  in  dishonorable  discharge.  If 
I've  outlined  the  idea  sufficiently,  I'll  declare  the 
muster  roll  open  for  signatures.  Dick,  you'll  find 
paper  and  pens  in  the  drawer.  Act  as  mustering 
officer." 

A  crowd  started  forward,  but  in  the  rear  of  the 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  171 

11  a  man  sprang  to  a  chair.  "  Do  we  get  guns 
and  uniforms?"  he  called. 

"  Certainly." 

"  I've  got  my  all  staked  here  in  the  village,"  he 
stated.  "  I  know  what  this  home  guard  may  mean 
before  this  war  is  over.  I'll  be  one  of  five  to  pay 
for  the  guns." 

"Bully  for  you,  Solly!" 

"  Knew  he'd  loosen  sometime." 

"  Fine !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Kendall  enthusiastically. 
"  That's  real  Kendallville  spirit.  But  you're  too 
late ;  some  one  has  already  contributed  a  sum  which 
will  cover  our  complete  equipment." 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence.  All  had  ex 
pected  to  do  their  part.  Then  came  a  murmur 
which  grew  to  a  roar.  "'Bullet'!  'Bullet'!" 
they  shouted.  "  Three  cheers  for  '  Bullet '  and  the 
Kendall  Guards!" 

Stephen  Kendall  had  meant  to  keep  this  new 
example  of  his  father's  public  spirit  a  secret,  but 
he  saw  it  was  as  useless  to  attempt  to  check  their 
cheers,  as  it  was  to  try  to  keep  them  from  giving 


172  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

the  new  company  his  family  name.  "  Thanks  for 
him,"  he  laughed  joyously.  "  I  claim  the  honor  of 
signing  my  name  as  the  first  member  of  the  Ken 
dall  Guards." 

He  stooped  over  the  table,  wrote  his  signature 
with  a  firm  hand,  and  held  out  the  pen  to  North. 
"  You're  next,  George,"  he  said,  "  then  Dick." 

"  How  about  the  rest  of  us?  " 

"  Age  before  beauty,"  suggested  one  of  the  older 
men  jokingly. 

"  Good  idea  •  that,"  agreed  Mr.  Kendall. 
"  George,  line  up  your  crowd ;  Dick,  send  your 
chaps  to  the  back  of  the  hall." 

"Who  looks  after  us?"  queried  one  of  the  fac 
tory  men  whimsically.  "  You  can't  freeze  us  out 
of  this  game." 

"  Let  them  start  the  list,"  suggested  North ; 
"  they've  neither  age  nor  beauty." 

From  George  North,  who  seldom  joked  about 
anything,  it  was  the  exact  touch  needed.  It  seemed 
to  put  them  all  in  even  more  of  a  mood  of  good 
fellowship  and  to  wipe  out  any  possible  ground  for 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  173 

rivalry.  "  But,  remember,"  warned  Stephen  Ken 
dall,  as  the  men  crowded  up  to  the  table,  "none 
of  you  need  sign.  Everybody's  to  act  on  his  own 
judgment  and  personal  desire." 

"  Sure  we  be !  "  shouted  Mike  Maloney,  a  big 
Irish  machinist.  "  Give  us  a  couple  of  thim  pens, 
Cap." 

After  each  had  signed  the  roll,  he  returned  to 
his  seat,  and,  when  the  last  youngster  had  blotted 
his  signature,  Dick  rose.  "  Captain,"  he  announced, 
saluting,  "  I  have  to  report  fifty-seven  men  pres 
ent." 

"  Begorra ! "  cried  the  enthusiastic  Maloney. 
"  Teach  me  th'  monkey-shine,  bhoy.  Tis  foine  I'll 
look  doin'  ut.  Is  ut  with  the  left  fist,  so?  " 

"  Order  in  the  ranks!  "  commanded  Mr.  Kendall, 
laughing  as  loudly  as  any  of  them.  "  You'll  learn 
it  fast  enough,  Mike,  and  do  it,  too,  when  you  ad 
dress  Lieut.  Hall." 

"  Do  I  make  th'  little  song  an'  dance  when  I  spake 
to  that  gossoon  ?  " 

"You  do." 


174  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"So  be  ut!"  agreed  Maloney  promptly.  ''I've 
pledged  to  obey  ordhers." 

"  Attention !  "  Kendall's  tone  told  them  that  the 
play  time  was  past.  "  Baker,  the  recruiting  ser 
geant,  has  offered  us  his  help  in  drilling  the  com 
pany  while  he's  here,"  he  announced.  "  I  wish  we 
had  a  regular  all  the  time." 

"  What's  the  matter  with  Tom  Hall  ?  "  suggested 
a  man  in  the  front  row. 

Dick  looked  at  Mr.  Kendall.  "  I'm  afraid  he's 
not  up  to  it,"  he  confessed  sorrowfully.  "  He's 
broken-hearted  because  he  couldn't  come,  but  he 
said  to  tell  you  he'd  be  mighty  glad  to  give  us  what 
he  called  '  non-com.'  school." 

"  Good !  The  captain  and  lieutenants  will  report 
to  Mr.  Hall  to-morrow  afternoon  at  four  for  pre 
liminary  instructions.  For  the  rest  of  the  after 
noon,  I  am  going  to  divide  the  company  into  three 
squads.  I'll  take  the  mill  men,  Lieut.  North  the 
town  men  and  Lieut.  Hall  the  Scouts,  and  the 
younger  fellows.  We  will  line  up  by  fours  and 
march  to  the  end  of  Main  street  and  back." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  175 

In  a  flash  they  saw  the  test  he  was  putting  them 
to.  It  meant  facing  the  town.  It  meant  marching 
past  their  friends,  and,  more,  it  meant  marching 
past  the  strikers  who  might  become  something  else 
at  any  second.  It  was  Maloney  who  came  slowly 
to  his  feet,  his  face  grim.  "  We're  ready,  sor,"  he 
announced  simply. 

Dick,  with  a  dozen  members  of  the  Scouts  to 
leaven  his  detachment,  knew  his  task  would  be  the 
simplest,  and,  long  before  the  other  two  squads  were 
in  line,  his  was  formed.  Stepping  across  the  hall, 
he  reported  to  his  captain  in  a  steady  voice.  Then, 
in  an  undertone,  "  Give  us  the  right  of  line,  sir,"  he 
begged ;  "  my  fellows  understand  discipline.  They'll 
be  steady,  if  anything's  started." 

"  I'd  planned  to,  Dick.  Maloney  acts  as  my  first 
sergeant  and  I  head  the  company.  You  and  I  are 
the  two  they're  after,  lad;  we'll  face  the  music  to 
gether." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

But  Stephen  Kendall  knew  what  the  little  trem 
ble  in  the  lad's  voice  meant  and  each  knew  that 


176  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

he  could  count  on  the  other  until  the  very 
end. 

It  was  a  strangely  self-conscious  crowd  which 
marched  down  the  echoing  stairs  and  out  into  the 
spring  sunlight  which  flooded  the  sidewalk.  "  Fours 
right,  march !  "  Stephen  Kendall's  voice  rang  out 
clear  and  true  as  he  reached  the  center  of  the  street 
and  wheeled  south.  "  Fours  right,  march !  "  re 
peated  Dick  without  a  quaver.  Yet  both  saw  the 
crowd  ahead,  heard  the  low  murmur  of  surprise  and 
then  the  quick,  high  jeer. 

"  Steady!  "  warned  the  boy.     "  Eyes  front." 

"  It's  strike-breakers,"  yelled  some  one  ahead. 
"Rock  'em!  Kill  'em!" 

Kendall  saw  the  group  surge  out  from  the  side 
walk,  recognized  Schwartz,  Weinberg's  closest 
friend,  and  knew  what  it  meant.  "  Close  up !  "  he 
ordered. 

"  Close  up ! "  repeated  Dick  and  heard  Mr. 
North's  equally  steady,  "  Close  up ! "  followed  by 
Maloney's  booming,  "  Close  up,  bhoys !  " 

No  one  had  ever  called  Stephen  Kendall  a  coward, 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  177 

but,  had  there  been  a  side  street,  between  his  men 
and  the  snarling  crowd  ahead,  he  would  have 
wheeled  into  it  with  a  joyous  heart.  The  fight  at 
the  plant  was  his;  the  thought  of  marching  these 
clear-eyed  boys  and  the  loyal  townsmen  straight  into 
the  jaws  of  a  riot,  sickened  him.  His  only  relief 
was  that  they  were  unarmed.  Had  they  carried  the 
rifles  already  in  the  Kendall  stables,  he  knew  that 
Maloney  and  the  stalwarts  from  the  shops  would 
see  to  it  that  the  gutters  ran  red.  He  had  but  an 
instant  to  choose  his  course,  to  balance  the  reputa 
tion  of  the  Kendalls  for  never  surrendering  against 
the  fair  name  of  Kendallville.  "  Halt !  "  he  or 
dered. 

Dick  Hall  heard,  and,  hearing,  understood.  And 
in  that  instant  he,  too,  weighed  the  alternative.  He 
had  a  clear  vision  of  a  grim  fight  or  a  factory 
which  was  arming  his  country  standing  idle.  Turn 
ing  as  he  marched,  he  looked  into  the  eyes  of  the 
first  four  lads.  "  Take  it  standing  up,"  he  said ; 
"  forward,  march!  " 

Mr.  Kendall's  face  went  white  with  anger  at  this 


178  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

open  disobedience  of  his  orders,  but,  before  he  could 
speak,  Dick  was  close  to  his  side.  "  The  right's 
with  us,"  he  said  simply.  "  Most  of  us  are  Scouts ; 
we're  going  through." 

Another  change  came  over  Stephen  Kendall's  face. 
"  Not  alone,"  he  stated.  "  Let  them  start  it." 

It  was  then  that  Kendall  saw  Schwartz  stoop  and 
pick  up  a  stone.  His  back  stiffened.  He  knew  that 
he  would  be  the  bull's-eye  of  the  target  but  he 
marched  on,  head  up,  arms  swinging  at  his  side,  a 
smile  on  his  lips  and  his  fine  eyes  alight,  every  inch 
a  man. 

The  unwavering  advance  of  the  silent  column  was 
not  what  the  strikers  had  expected.  Schwartz  knew 
that  the  time  had  come  to  act.  Kendall  was  the 
one  man  he  wanted  down.  With  him  out  of  the 
way,  everything  would  be  simple.  "  Come  on !  "  he 
roared  and  his  arm  went  back  to  hurl  the  rock  at  the 
undefended  head. 

But  just  as  it  went  back,  a  flying  figure  crashed 
into  him,  paused,  wavered  from  the  shock,  whirled 
round  in  the  vacant  space  between  the  mob  and  the 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          179 

advancing  Guard  and  came  to  a  stand  straight,  per 
fectly  poised,  ready.  "Who  opens  the  ball?"  he 
challenged,  his  cold  eyes  sweeping  the  crowd. 
"Look!"  he  cried.  And,  as  if  out  of  the  empty 
air,  a  blued  automatic  appeared  in  his  hand.  "  You 
helped  make  this;  you  whelps,  are  you  afraid  of 
your  handiwork  ?  " 

"Kill  him!" 

Dal  Tregressor  laughed  as  he  took  one  step  for 
ward  and  there  was  a  note  in  that  laugh  which 
sent  cold  chills  up  Dick  Hall's  spine.  "  So  it's  you, 
Schwartz,  is  it  ?  "  he  sneered.  "  Where's  your  run 
ning  mate?  " 

"  Get  back !  Don't  shoot !  "  The  bravado  was 
dying  out  of  the  mob. 

"  I  want  Schwartz,"  declared  the  lone  man. 
"  Come  out  here,  you  yellow  dog !  "  He  dropped 
his  gun  into  his  pocket  and  leaped  forward.  "  Come 
out  here,"  he  snapped,  gripping  the  big  man  by  the 
shoulder  and  jerking  him  into  the  street.  "  Stand 
still,  the  rest  of  you." 

Schwartz,  trembling  with  a  very  vivid  fear,  looked 


180  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

this  way  and  that  for  a  road  of  escape,  but  Dal 
Tregressor  shook  him  like  a  terrier  shakes  a  rat. 
"  Look  there,  you  sneaking  Hun ! "  he  ordered. 
"  Those  men  are  doing  their  bit.  You  don't  see 
their  flag;  I  don't  see  it;  but  they  see  it,  waving 
there  above  their  heads.  I've  been  over  the  top 
without  the  colors.  I  know  what  it  means.  Take 
off  your  hat  and  salute  their  flag!  " 

His  own  heels  came  together  with  a  click  and 
his  one  whole  hand  snapped  to  his  cap.  Like  a 
statue,  he  stood  there  at  the  salute  until  the  last  of 
Maloney's  men  had  marched  past  in  utter  silence. 
And,  at  his  side  stood  the  hatless,  white-faced  leader 
of  the  mob. 

But,  as  the  company  swung  on  up  the  street,  cheers 
began  to  break  out  on  either  side  and  Dal  Tregres 
sor,  drawing  a  long  breath,  turned  to  his  still  rigid 
companion. 

"  There's  a  train  leaving  in  ten  minutes,"  he  an 
nounced;  "  get  on  and  see  how  far  it  goes." 

Then  he  turned  and  walked  to  the  factory  with 
out  so  much  as  a  glance  at  the  cheering  crowds. 


CHAPTER  X 

A   MIDNIGHT   FIRE 

DAL  TREGRESSOR  leaned  against  the  corner  of  the 
small  frame  building  which  housed  those  of  his 
watchmen  temporarily  off  duty  and  counted  the 
slow  strokes  of  the  factory  clock  in  its  unseen 
tower  high  overhead.  A  picture  of  idle  indiffer 
ence,  he  was,  in  reality,  very  much  on  the  alert. 
From  this  point  he  could  follow  the  line  of  arc 
lights  more  than  half  way  around  their  circle,  and 
was  within  call  of  most  of  his  men  who  paced  their 
posts  within  the  shadows. 

Yet  he  was  more  intent  in  watching  the  basement 
door  of  the  old  shop.  Hardly  had  the  bell  ceased  its 
booming  when  some  one  came  out,  and,  without 
pausing,  headed  directly  toward  him.  Tregressor, 
his  eyes  as  keen  as  a  hawk's,  saw,  but  hid  his 
knowledge  under  an  even  thicker  mask  of  careless 
ness. 

181 


182  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Wake  up,  Dal !  "  Dick  was  grinning  as  he  laid 
a  hand  on  his  friend's  arm. 

"  Oh !  "  The  man  pretended  great  astonishment. 
"  Why,"  he  exclaimed,  as  if  vastly  relieved,  "  it's 
the  Aunt  Lizzies'  second  in  command!  My  graci 
ous,  how  you  did  frighten  me,  Lieutenant !  I  must 
have  been  asleep." 

"  Oh,  back  up !  I  saw  you  turn  your  head  away 
as  I  opened  the  door." 

"  Little  bright  eyes,  the  night  owl !  "  teased  Tre- 
gressor.  "  When  are  the  Lizzies  going  to  pull  an 
other  show  ?  " 

"That's  right,  laugh  it  off!  We  all  know  it 
would  have  been  about  our  last  if  you  hadn't 
appeared  like  the  movie  hero  in  the  last  reel." 

"  Drop  that.     How  are  things  going  inside  ?  " 

"  The  way  you  handled  Schwartz  seemed  to  put 
a  crimp  in  a  lot  of  back  bones.  Most  of  the  men 
I  thought  would  be  missing  to-night  are  polishing 
steel  with  their  noses.  But,  Dal,  there's  one  chap 
out  I  didn't  expect  would  quit.  That's  why  I  sent 
you  word." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  183 

"Well,  who  is  it?  The  night's  half  gone  and  I 
don't  know  yet." 

"  Scott." 

"  Sergeant  Baker's  friend,  eh  ?  Um !  Leave  it 
to  an  old  non-com,  to  spot  a  wrong  5un." 

The  boy  looked  quickly  about  to  make  sure  none 
was  near.  "  Dal,"  he  announced,  "  I  believe  there's 
more  going  on  round  here  that  even  you've  sus 
pected.  Scott  used  to  be  mighty  chummy  with 
me ;  I've  always  had  a  sneaking  liking  for  the  chap. 
Even  now,  I  can't  believe  what  I  almost  know." 

"  If  you  know  anything,  spill  it." 

"  I'm  going  to.  I  hate  the  idea,  but  I  guess  it's 
the  right  thing  to  do.  Even  then,  it  doesn't  make 
things  line  up." 

"  I'm  no  mind  reader,"  suggested  Dal  mildly. 

"  It  was  when  I  got  into  that  first  row  with  Wein- 
berg.  Jim  Scott  went  into  Weinberg's  office.  I 
saw  him.  Of  course  I  didn't  see  him  take  anything. 
I  don't  even  know  what  was  taken.  But  I've  got 
to  believe  that,  whatever  was  taken,  was  taken  by 
him." 


184  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Does  he  know  you  saw  him  go  in  there?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Ever  say  anything  about  it  to  him  ?  " 

Dick  nodded.  "  Asked  him  if  he  could  think  of 
any  way  to  square  me,  or  something  like  that. 
Thought  I'd  give  him  a  chance  to  play  the  game." 

"Wouldn't  he  do  it?" 

"  No." 

"  Steve  Kendall  know  this?  " 

"  No.  I've  never  told  any  one.  I  couldn't  prove 
anything  against  him;  I  know  how  it  hurts  to  be 
suspected,  when  you're  innocent." 

Tregressor  took  a  quick  turn  into  the  shadows 
and  back,  his  head  bowed.  "  Doesn't  hang  to 
gether,"  he  announced  shortly.  "  Can't  see  why 
he'd  back  up  Weinberg  now,  by  striking,  if  he'd 
steal  something  from  him  a  couple  of  months  ago." 

"  Maybe  Weinberg's  got  it  on  him." 

"  Maybe.  Don't  know  Scott  well,  but  he  struck 
me  as  the  sort  who'd  scrap  rather  than  quit." 

"  The  sergeant  said  he'd  seen  him  mixed  up  with 
a  gang  of  strikers  out  West.  Dal,  I  believe  there's 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  185 

a  plot  on  to  put  this  plant  out  of  business.  There's 
plenty  of  spies  in  this  country  and  they  want  our 
munition  factories  shut  down.  Weinberg  was  using 
me  as  an  excuse.  I'm  as  sure  of  it  as  I  am  that 
I'm  talking  with  you.  What's  more,  Mr.  Kendall 
knows  it." 

"  Has  he  told  you  so  ?  '•'  demanded  Dal  sharply. 

"  No." 

"  Then  don't  quote  him,"  he  advised.  "  We're 
paid  to  do  our  work,  not  his  thinking.  If  he  does 
suspect  anything,  and  is  keeping  it  mum,  you  bet 
he's  got  a  good  reason  for  doing  it  and  he  doesn't 
want  any  of  us  talking  wild.  But,  between  you  and 
me  and  the  family  keepsakes,  I'm  thinking  the  same 
way.  I've  orders  to  halt  every  one  who  comes  near 
that  fence.  If  they  don't  halt  when  my  men  tell 
'em  to,  well  —  they  halt,"  he  finished  grimly. 

"  But  where  does  Scott  come  in?  " 

"  If  he  comes  in  at  all,  he'll  show  up  mighty  soon," 
prophesied  Dal.  "If  we've  guessed  right,  the 
party's  just  begun.  That  strike  flivvered,  but  if 
they're  in  earnest  no  grand-stand  plays  are  going 


186  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

to  scare  them  off.  I've  got  my  gang  on  edge,  and, 
believe  me,  they're  good  huskies.  But  I  must  have 
ten  more.  There're  spots  still  unguarded.  You 
get  busy  with  the  Lizzies.  Get  Kendall  to  let  'em 
have  those  guns  he's  hidden  and  tip  off  every  Boy 
Scout  to  keep  his  ear  close  to  the  ground  and  his 
mouth  shut  unless  he's  talking  to  my  father  or  you. 
I'm  going  the  rounds  again,  so  eat  your  grub.  If  I 
get  a  tip  about  Scott,  I'll  pass  it  on." 

Dick  went  back  into  the  shop,  more  uneasy  than 
ever  at  the  climax  of  his  own  troubles.  But  Tre- 
gressor  walked  his  rounds  with  anxious  face.  All 
that  the  boy  had  said  bore  out  what  Mr.  Kendall  had 
disclosed  when  he  asked  him  to  undertake  the  work. 
He  believed  that  trouble  was  fast  approaching,  and 
he  thrived  on  that  sort  of  food.  Yet  one  thing 
puzzled  him;  he  could  not  solve  Scott's  evident  at 
tempt  to  run  both  with  the  fox  and  the  hounds,  and 
he  would  have  given  much  to  meet  the  man  alone  in 
one  of  the  dark  corners  of  the  big  yard  for  which 
he  was  responsible. 

Two  hours  more  and  suspicion  turned  to  cer- 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  187 

tainty.  The  night  was  still  and  slow,  low-hanging 
clouds  clung  to  the  top  of  the  great  mountain  at  the 
valley's  head.  In  the  deep  shadows  only  the  twin 
kling  rows  of  lights  in  the  windows  of  the  factory 
buildings  bore  witness  that  the  village  was  in  the 
world  of  the  living.  Certainly  none  could  have 
denied  that  peace  brooded  over  Kendallville. 

Then,  low  at  first,  like  the  drone  of  an  angry 
hive,  but,  growing,  with  a  whine,  into  full-throated 
blast,  the  great  siren  above  the  power  house  roared 
out.  The  shadows  seemed  to  waver  under  the 
strength  of  its  cry;  the  buildings  to  tremble,  the 
blackness  on  the  distant  mountain  to  shake.  Men 
paused,  tools  poised  above  the  work  in  hand,  or  shot 
forth  reaching  fingers  for  the  levers  of  their  ma 
chines.  Then,  above  the  new-born  whirr  of  the 
alarm  bells,  rang  the  sharp,  short  cry,  "  Fire !  " 

In  the  yard,  Dick  heard  the  shouts  of  watch 
men,  followed  by  the  pound  of  rushing  feet.  In  the 
long  shop,  the  calm  orders  of  old  Robinson  broke 
the  momentary  hush.  "  Get  everything  under  cover 
before  the  sprinklers  start,"  he  ordered.  "  We  don't 


188  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

know  where  it  is,  but  it  ain't  here  yet.  Fire  squad 
file  out!  We  men  who  are  left  behind  will  stick 
by  the  guns  awhile." 

Dick  went  down  the  stairs  on  the  jump.  As  his 
leader  came  to  the  entrance  he  snatched  the  nozzle 
of  the  coiled  hose  from  its  rack.  The  rest  caught 
hold.  With  a  yell,  they  rushed  for  their  hydrant 
station.  Now  the  whistle  boomed  in  short,  angry 
blasts.  Then,  at  the  north  end  of  the  yard,  a  dull, 
flooding  glow  began  to  spread  and  its  light  stole 
slowly  over  the  walls  of  the  huge  new  shop.  "  It's 
the  store  house !  "  panted  Dick.  "  The  old  shop'll 
go  next,  then  this.  Wind's  this  way." 

"  Save  your  breath,  youngster,"  advised  the  man 
behind  him.  "Hit  it  up!" 

Across  the  yard  came  rushing  a  hatless,  coatless 
man.  "  Hurry  with  that  hose !  "  he  called.  "  Get 
the  water  in  there.  Fight  it  from  this  side.  It's  a 
bad  one." 

"  Wind's  toward  the  main  shop,  sir." 

Stephen  Kendall  waved  a  hand  as  he  dashed  past. 
"  Come  on,"  he  ordered.  "  Keep  this  side.  You'll 


V^   -»,  _JL*_ -*— J -i- 1     -—    -»  j*.  .T-     ^__-f  A_-f      T        •    .-M-.^a.j_^  ..M    ^  -L  O  C/ 

get  trapped  between  the  pond  and  wall,  if  you  work 
from  the  west." 

They  whirled  out  the  hose  as  they  ran,  trying  to 
keep  pace  with  him.  They  saw  him  stop,  as  he 
met  the  men  from  the  third  floor,  and  heard  him 
order  them  to  keep  a  stream  playing  over  the  new 
shop  to  protect  that.  The  night  grew  brighter ;  the 
glare  lit  the  whole  yard.  Yellow  clouds  of  smoke 
whirled  out  through  the  exploding  windows  of  the 
long,  one-storied  storehouse  beside  the  spur  track. 

The  hose  in  their  hands  squirmed,  writhed,  stif 
fened.  With  a  hiss,  the  stream  leaped  out,  curved, 
straightened,  struck  the  window  on  the  east  side  with 
a  crash.  "  Hold  'er  steady ! "  commanded  the 
leader. 

Dick,  with  two  others,  held  the  fighting  nozzle, 
crouching  to  avoid  the  thick  smoke.  The  heat 
slapped  at  their  faces  like  waves  slap  the  side  of  a 
boat.  Their  breath  came  sharp  and  rasping.  From 
left  and  right  came  sharp  orders.  They  heard  the 
roar  of  two  more  streams  above  the  flames.  The 
first  and  fourth  floor  squads  were  in  action.  "  It's 


190  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

a  terror,"  panted  Dick  to  the  man  at  his  side. 

"  Yup !     I'm  roasting." 

"  We  can  stick  awhile," 

"You  bet!" 

They  gulped  and  settled  their  feet  more  firmly. 
It  seemed  as  if  the  water  was  winning.  "  Here 
comes  the  town  company,"  gasped  Dick;  "  I  hear  the 
bells." 

"  Tregressor !  "  roared  Kendall's  voice  above  the 
din.  "  Tregressor !  " 

"Yes,  sir?" 

"  Keep  that  fire  department  out." 

"  Already  'tended  to,  sir.  Double  guards  on  all 
posts." 

"  Right.     Steady  that  No.  i  stream !  " 

Dick  heard  the  two  men  at  his  sides  swear  under 
their  breath.  "  There's  been  crooked  work  here," 
he  offered ;  "  that's  why  he  won't  let  any  outsiders 
in.  He's  trusting  it  all  to  us." 

"  By  gad,  you're  right !  " 

"  Hurroo !  "  From  the  source  of  No.  i  stream 
Maloney's  big  voice  rose  above  the  racket  like  a 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  191 

trumpet.  "  Tis  Kendall  men  an'  Kendall  guns  agin 
th'  Hun,  bhoys.  Lay  on !  " 

If  anything  more  had  been  needed  to  hold  them 
to  their  work,  the  knowledge  that  Stephen  Kendall 
relied  on  them  alone  was  it.  There  was  not  a  man 
there  who  would  not  have  suffocated  at  his  post  be 
fore  he  would  have  retreated  one  step.  "  It's  gain 
ing  on  us,"  gasped  Dick.  "  Watch  those  flames. 
They're  creeping  through  the  whole  building." 

He  heard  some  one  behind  him  in  the  smoke. 

"  You  men  all  right  ?  "  asked  Kendall. 

& 
"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Don't  stick  too  long." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Kendall!" 

"  Here." 

Tregressor  came  plowing  in  as  if  he  thrived  on 
smoke  and  heat,  "  Pardon  interference,  sir,"  he 
cried;  "look's  like  a  case  of  action  front,  if  we're 
to  save  the  first  line  trench.  If  we  could  smash  in 
that  double  door,  and  get  the  water  in,  it  would 
drive  the  flame  back  to  the  rear,  where  it  started." 

"  No  man  can  live  in  that  heat,  though." 


192  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  I've  lived  through  worse'n  that,"  volunteered 
Dal.  "  I've  one  good  arm  left ;  give  me  an  ax." 

"  No." 

Dick  heard  and  his  hands  stole  back  along  the 
hose  until  he  felt  those  of  the  man  behind  him. 
"  I'm  all  in,"  he  said ;  "  be  back  in  a  sec." 

Out  through  the  smoke  he  scooted,  but  low  to  the 
ground  to  escape  both  smoke  and  notice,  then 
wheeled  eastward  for  a  few  gulps  of  untainted  air. 
Mr.  Kendall's  order  had  been  to  Dal  Tregressor. 
Dick  thought  of  the  cases  of  automatics  piled  inside 
that  burning  building.  He  had  no  idea  how  many 
were  there ;  how  many  might  have  been  shipped  out 
on  the  midnight  train.  He  only  knew  that  some 
were  left  and  that  each  one  might  mean  the  life  of  a 
soldier  at  the  front.  Against  many  lives,  he  staked 
but  one. 

"  I  want  that,"  he  cried,  snatching  an  ax  from  the 
hands  of  a  man  who  was  hurrying  toward  the  rear 
of  the  building. 

"Give  that  back!" 

"  Can't.     Need  it" 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          193 

For  just  an  instant  he  paused  to  size  up  his  prob 
lem  for  the  last  time.  The  line  of  flaming  windows 
told  the  story  all  too  plainly.  The  northern  half 
of  the  building  was  already  a  seething  furnace. 
The  blaze  was  sweeping  through,  and,  from  the 
southern  end,  its  leap  across  the  narrow  gap  to  the 
new  shop  would  be  the  work  of  a  second.  The  big 
double  door  was  the  key  to  the  fire.  But  the  walls 
of  the  two  buildings  were  so  close  that  none  could 
man  hose  between  them  without  roasting,  should 
the  flames  lick  through.  Nor,  from  the  compara 
tive  safety  of  an  acute  angle,  could  the  doors  be 
smashed  in  by  weight  of  water.  When  they  gave 
before  the  flames,  it  would  be  too  late.  It  was  ax 
work  first,  then  oblique  streams  which  should  work 
slowly  in  as  they  drove  the  fire  back. 

He  measured  his  distance  as  he  drew  long,  deep 
breaths.  Then  the  remembrance  of  a  thing  Mr. 
Tregressor  had  told  the  Beaver  patrol  came  to  his 
aid.  Whipping  off  his  coat,  he  "  slushed  it "  in  a 
puddle  made  by  a  leaking  joint  of  hose.  Then,  ax 
in  one  hand  and  dripping  jacket  in  the  other,  he 


194  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

leaped  for  the  narrow  gap,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  six 
steps  he  must  climb  to  win  the  broad  platform  be 
fore  that  fast-locked  furnace  door. 

They  saw  him  when  it  was  too  late.     "  Oh,  lord ! 
gulped  Tregressor.     "  Give  me  that  hose." 

He  felt  an  equally  steady  hand  settle  beside  his. 
"  Work  to  the  front,  Dal,"  gulped  Stephen  Ken 
dall.  "Why  didn't  I  go!" 

Together  they  worked  the  heavy  line  southward, 
stumbling,  coughing,  gasping,  utterly  unconscious 
that  they  were  working  nearer  and  nearer  the  build 
ing,  utterly  unconscious  of  everything  except  that 
slender  figure,  its  head  hidden  in  steaming,  dripping 
cloth,  its  arms  flaying  that  bolted  door. 

Twice  they  saw  Dick  falter,  stagger,  recover,  as 
they  sent  the  water  crashing  against  the  wall  just 
above  his  head,  and  so  revived  him  with  its  saving 
spray.  Again  and  again  they  called  to  him  to  come 
back,  but  the  roar  of  the  flames  and  the  crash  of  the 
ax  on  the  charred  wood,  drowned  their  voices. 

"  It's  when  he  smashes  through  that  he'll  get  it,"  .: 
groaned  Dal.     "  The  flames  will  lick  him  up." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          195 

"  I  know  it." 

"  Can  you  hold  alone  ?     I'll  go  over  the  top." 

"  Stay  here."  There  was  no  questioning  the 
authority  in  Kendall's  voice  now.  He  was  the  mas 
ter  of  mill  and  men  alike.  "  Maloney !  "  he  shouted. 
"You,  Bailey!" 

"Yes?" 

"Yes,  sor?" 

"  Bring  up  your  hose  on  the  jump.  If  that  door 
gives,  play  into  it.  It's  his  only  chance." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  You've  said  ut,  sor." 

"  It's  giving.  Steady,  boy !  Steady  there.  He's 
down  again !  No,  he's  up  I  " 

"Mike  Maloney!" 

"Sor?" 

"  Here." 

The  big  Irishman  came  leaping  through  the  smoke 
to  Kendall's  side. 

"  She's  going  in  with  his  next  blow.  Steady, 
now!  Drop  a  curtain  across  that  door." 

"  Grab  hold,  Mike."     Kendall  heaved  the  heavy 


196  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

nozzle  into  the  powerful  hands.     "  Dal,  carry  on!  " 

Dal  Tregressor's  exclamation  was  as  sharp  as  the 
crack  of  a  pistol.  But  Maloney  wailed  like  a 
banshee  as  he  saw  Stephen  Kendall  leap  toward  the 
platform  which  spread  like  a  stage  before  the  eddy 
ing  maw  of  the  furnace  which  flared  open  in  the 
very  face  of  the  tottering  boy.  But,  between  them, 
they  held  firm  and  added  the  crash  of  their  stream  to 
the  weight  of  the  other  two  which  smashed  across 
the  wall  of  crimson  flame, 

"  Steady  all !  "  Dal  was  himself  again,  cool,  re 
sourceful,  game;  his  attention  entirely  on  the  two 
black  silhouettes  against  the  red,  seething  curtain 
which  hung  where  the  doors  had  been. 

He  saw  Dick  wilt  down  into  a  shapeless  heap, 
but  had  foreseen  that.  It  was  Kendall  alone  for 
both.  He  saw  him  stumble  as  he  cleared  the  steps : 
knew  that  the  heat  had  hit  him;  saw  his  arms  go 
up  over  his  face ;  saw  him  lunge  ahead. 

"  He's  down !  "  groaned  Maloney. 

"  He's  not     He's  got  him." 

"  Saints  give  'urn  strength !  " 


KENDALL 


HALF  LIFTED  HIM 


OF  KENDALL  VILLE          197 

Kendall  stooped  in  his  stride,  clutched  at  the  boy, 
half  lifted  him,  slipped,  caught  his  balance,  slipped 
again,  staggered,  fell.  They  saw  him  try  to  roll 
toward  the  further  edge  of  the  platform,  stop,  lie 
inert. 

Tregressor  grasped  the  idea.  "  Let  'em  have  it !  " 
he  yelled  at  the  top  of  his  voice.  "  All  together. 
Let  'em  have  the  water.  Now !  " 

The  three  great  streams  centered  into  one  and  that 
one  caught  man  and  boy  in  its  saving  arms  and  swept 
them  on  its  triple  head  out  of  the  roaring  jaws  of 
death.  It  was  not  heroic,  it  was  not  inspiring,  it 
would  not  have  moved  even  a  reporter  to  eulogy  but, 
as  the  two  dropped  out  of  danger  over  the  far 
edge,  Mike  Maloney  lifted  his  grim,  strong  face  to 
the  smoke-hung  sky  and  gave  low-voiced  thanks, 
while  Dal  Tregressor's  one  good  hand  brushed 
across  his  eyes. 


DAL  TREGRESSOR  strolled  into  the  sitting-room  of 
the  Hall  home  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  has  noth 
ing  at  all  on  his  mind.  "  Hello,  Lizzie!  "  he  called 
cheerily;  "when  you  going  to  put  the  rookies 
through  the  manual  ?  " 

Dick  turned  slowly  among  the  pillows  propped 
behind  his  back  and  a  happy  smile  spread  across  his 
blistered  face.  "  Gee,  but  I'm  glad  to  see  you ! " 
he  exclaimed.  "  It's  bully  in  you  to  come." 

"  Sure !  That's  why  I  came."  He  pulled  a  chair 
close  to  the  lounge  and  sat  down  languidly.  "  I 
make  it  a  special  point  to  make  afternoon  calls. 
Habit  I  got  in  England.  They  used  to  give  us  after 
noon  tea,  sometimes.  Where's  your  father  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Kendall  sent  his  limousine  for  him  an  hour 
ago." 

198 


THE  BOY  SCOUTS  199 

"If  the  Lizzies  are  plotting  another  review,  I'd 
better  get  back  down  town,"  declared  Dal,  in  a  wor 
ried  tone,  but  made  no  move  to  rise.  "  Glad  Ken 
dall  didn't  send  the  plush  lined  tank  for  me.  I've 
hunted  a  dugout  every  time  any  one's  yelled  my 
name  all  day.  Suppose  he'll  get  my  range  sooner 
or  later." 

"What's  up?" 

"That's  so,"  confessed  Dal;  "you  were  rather 
disinterested  last  night  and  didn't  get  the  laugh. 
You  see,  the  big  boss  was  about  to  yell  to  Mike 
when  we  got  his  range  with  that  hose." 

"  I  don't  understand,"  confessed  Dick.  "  But, 
from  what  father's  told  me,  you  and  Mr.  Steve 
saved  my  life.  It's  not  much  of  a  joke  to  me." 

"  Sure  not !  Steve  didn't  think  so,  either.  Ma- 
loney  and  I  caught  him  flush  with  his  mouth  open. 
He  swore  we  tried  to  drown  him.  Mad?  Wow! 
Say,  you  oughter  have  heard  him!  He  coughed 
like  a  fire  engine." 

"  You're  not  going  to  laugh  it  off,  neither  you 
nor  Mr.  Kendall.  I  know  what  you  both  did  and 


200  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

some  day  I'm  going  to  show  you  both  how  grateful 
I  am." 

"  Now  forget  all  that  sort  of  stuff,"  advised  Dal. 
"  Any  man  keeps  his  head  in  a  tight  corner.  You're 
a  man  and  you  keep  yours  when  you  see  Kendall. 
He  doesn't  want  thanks.  It  would  make  him  un 
comfortable.  He  did  a  big  thing  in  going  in  there 
for  you,  but  he  doesn't  want  to  talk  about  it.  I 
know,"  he  added  with  an  amused  chuckle ;  "  he  told 
me  to  shut  up." 

The  lad  was  thoughtful  for  a  moment.  Certainly 
if  any  one  knew  how  another  would  feel  under  the 
circumstances  he  had  described,  it  was  this  veteran 
of  the  Princess  Pats.  "  How'd  they  get  the  fire 
out?  "  he  asked  with  a  sigh. 

"  Cinch,  after  what  you'd  done.  Edged  farther 
and  farther  in  front  of  the  door  and  fought  it  back 
to  where  it  started.  The  whole  shooting  match 
would  have  gone  but  for  you,  youngster.  As  it  was, 
there  wasn't  much  burned  but  empty  packing  cases." 

"  Leave  me  out  of  it  and  go  on." 

Dal  grinned  appreciatively.     "  I'm  getting  so  I'm 


OF  KEKDALLVILLE  201 

not  crazy  about  being  told  what  to  say  and  what  not 
to  say,"  he  confessed,  "  so  I  guess  I  won't  tell  you 
how  the  thing  started." 

"  Dal !    Do  you  know  ?    Tell  me  ?  " 

His  eagerness  was  so  real  that  Tregressor  leaned 
forward  and  gently  pushed  him  back  among  the  pil 
lows.  "If  you  couldn't  keep  most  of  your  hair 
and  all  your  eyebrows  on,"  he  observed,  "  don't  get 
so  heated  you'll  scorch  off  what  fuzz  is  left" 

"  Tell  me." 

"  Right  O !  "  He  settled  down  again,  and,  cross 
ing  his  legs,  looked  with  a  new  soberness  at  his 
friend.  "  Something's  mighty  rotten  in  other  places 
besides  that  famous  state  of  Denmark,"  he  said. 
"  That  fire  was  incendiary." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Some  one  set  it." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"For  one  thing,  I  suspected  it  after  our  talk; 
for  another,  I  discovered  how  it  was  done." 

"Where?     How?     Why?" 

"Beginning  with  the  first  careless  query,"  said 


202  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Dal  with  a  smile;  "  in  the  back  corner  of  the  build 
ing, —  the  northwest  one,  the  only  dark  place  in  the 
yard  and  the  one  I  was  most  afraid  of,  because  the 
men  who  had  strung  the  new  lights  failed  to  get  up 
a  good  one  there,  for  some  reason  or  other." 

"  Why  didn't  you  have  your  men  watch  it  ?  " 

"  Kendall  asked  me  that  very  same  question  after 
we'd  gotten  him  safely  ashore  last  night.  I  did  have 
it  watched.  I  put  a  good  man  there.  His  only 
fault  was  that  his  head  was  softer  than  what  hit  it." 

"Dal!" 

"  Exactly."  He  nodded  soberly  as  he  looked  into 
the  wide  eyes  opposite.  "  Some  one  laid  him  out 
cold.  We  found  him  unconscious." 

"When?" 

"  After  the  fire  was  under  control  and  I  took  an 
other  scouting  trip  round  the  edge  of  things. 
Some  one  must  have  climbed  the  fence  when  his 
back  was  turned  as  he  walked  his  sentry-go,  laid  for 
him  in  the  shadow  of  the  building,  reached  out  and 
walloped  him  from  behind  when  he'd  gone  past 
again." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  203 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I'm  a  good  guesser.  Some  one  had  to  bring 
in  the  gasoline  can  we  found  near  him,  and  some 
one  had  brought  it  in  full  and  put  a  match  to  it  after 
spilling  it  through  a  busted  window.  It  was  nervy 
and  no  one  would  have  done  it  who  hadn't  been 
some  desperate." 

Dick's  brows  were  drawn  down  in  troubled 
thought.  "  It's  some  of  the  Weinberg  gang,"  he 
stated;  "  it's  a  follow-up  of  that  strike.  Get  Wein 
berg  and  you've  got  the  whole  outfit." 

Tregressor  nodded  slow  assent.  "  Where  do  I 
get  him?  "  he  asked.  "  Tell  me  that  and  I'll  do  the 
rest." 

"  Has  he  disappeared  ?  " 

"  He  had  this  morning.  His  wife  and  boy  were 
at  the  house  but  the  old  bird  had  gone  to  get  an 
other  job.  Or,  at  least,  that's  what  his  wife  said. 
The  kid  asked  after  you.  I  don't  like  that  kid." 

"  I'm  not  crazy  about  him  myself.  He  asked  us 
to  take  him  into  the  Scouts  and  your  father  wants 
us  to  give  him  a  chance." 


204  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Father's  too  blamed  tender  hearted,"  growled 
Dal.  "  Don't  pat  a  Hun  pup  with  one  hand  unless 
you've  got  half  a  brick  in  the  other." 

"  Maybe  we  can  civilize  him." 

"  Kill  him  first  and  be  sure,"  advised  the  man 
coldly.  "  I  know  the  breed.  As  for  old  Weinberg, 
he's  vamoosed.  But  the  funny  part  of  the  thing  is, 
Dick,  that  he  was  in  the  crowd  outside  the  gate 
last  night  and  volunteered  to  help." 

"Jt  was  a  bluff." 

"  So  I  think.  Another  funny  thing  was  that  he 
was  yelling  about  the  fire  being  set  and  demanding 
that  every  one  help  him  catch  the  man  who  set  it. 
Said  he'd  be  accused  of  it  and  that  he  wouldn't  stand 
for  that." 

"  Then  why  didn't  he  stick  round  and  yell  that 
way  to-day?  Gee,  but  I  wish  I  could  get  out  and 
help !  I'll  be  able  to  in  a  couple  of  days." 

"  You'll  sit  here  till  your  face  STOWS  to  look  less 
like  a  hard  boiled  soft-shell  egg,"  observed  Dal. 
"  This  is  my  own  particular  party.  My  men  fell 
down  and  let  'em  pull  it  off.  They're  some  peevish, 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  205 

and  your  Aunt  Lizzies  ain't  adding  to  their  peace  of 
mind  by  what  they're  saying." 

"  It's  mean  to  lay  the  blame  on  you,"  declared 
Dick. 

"That's  where  it  belongs,"  acknowledged  Tr,e- 
gressor.  "  My  men  know  it.  I  told  'em  so  twice. 
They  said  a  third  time  wasn't  necessary,"  he  added. 
"  Anyway,  let  the  Lizzies  have  their  fun.  It  doesn't 
hurt  anything  to  keep  a  gang  of  fighting  huskies 
mad." 

"  I  couldn't  stop  'em  from  here,  anyway,"  He 
was  silent  for  a  moment.  "  Dal,"  he  asked  slowly, 
"  has  Jim  Scott  shown  up  anywhere  in  this  ?  " 

Tregressor's  frown  increased.  "  That's  where 
we  both  fell  down,"  he  admitted,  "  fell  down  hard. 
We  ought  to  have  gone  to  Mr.  Kendall  with  that 
story  last  night." 

"  I  hate  to  believe  it." 

"  Will  you  promise  not  to  tell  this,  even  to  your 
father?" 

"  Of  course." 

"  I  went  the  rounds  of  that  crowd  outside  the 


206  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

fence  last  night  and  I  asked  a  heap  of  questions.  I 
wanted  to  find  who  was  the  first  one  on  the  spot 
and  then  if  he's  seen  any  one  else.  I  drew  a  blank. 
Then  one  of  my  ivory-heads,  who'd  been  on  the 
north  fence,  came  strolling  up  with  the  news  that, 
jus^. before  the  whistle  blew,  he'd  seen  some  one 
'  running.  Later  he  sorter  remembered  it  looked  like 
two  some  ones.  The  second  looked  like  the  man  I 
described  to  him  and  that  description  fitted  Scott." 

"Why  didn't  he  shoot?  Oh,  why  didn't  he 
shoot?" 

"  He's  waiting  in  the  office,  with  a  state  police 
man  on  each  side  of  him,  to  answer  that  question  to 
Mr.  Kendall,  son." 

"  Do  you  suspect  him  of  being  mixed  up  in  it?  " 

"  I  suspect  every  one  but  myself  —  and  I'm  get 
ting  uncertain  about  me.  All  I  know  is,  I'm  going 
to  land  Scott  and  Weinberg  back  in  Kendallville,  if 
I  have  to  go  to  Berlin  and  get  'em." 

With  an  effort,  the  boy  sat  up  and  held  out  his 
hand.  "  You  can  make  all  the  fun  of  us  you  want," 
he  said,  "  but  we  Lizzies  aren't  going  to  let  the  Ter- 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          207 

riers  go  it  alone.  You've  got  to  count  us  in,  Dal. 
We're  going  to  do  our  share  and — "  He  stopped 
and  looked  up  to  find  that  it  was  his  sister's  step  he 
had  heard  and  that  she  was  standing  in  the  door 
way.  "  If  you  tell  me  it's  time  to  eat  again,  Sally," 
he  declared,  "  I'll  sic  the  cat  on  you." 

"  I  knew  I'd  get  my  reward,"  exclaimed  Dal  in 
mock  excitement;  "  it's  afternoon  tea." 

The  girl  shook  a  finger  at  the  big  fellow.  "If 
you  want  doughnuts,"  she  said  merrily,  "  you  can 
come  out  in  the  kitchen  and  get  them.  Last  time 
you  said  they  weren't  good." 

"  I  didn't  do  anything  of  the  sort ;  I  merely  sug 
gested  that  the  holes  were  too  big." 

"  You  said  they  looked  like  life  preservers,"  she 
charged. 

"  Having  been  through  the  submarine  zone,  a  life 
preserver  looks  good  to  me,  Sally.  I  think  they'd 
be  safer  if  you'd  bait  'em  with  a  bit  of  cheese, 
though." 

"  You're  always  finding  fault,"  she  laughed. 
"  Guess  it's  'cause  you  weren't  brought  up  right. 


208  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

I'll  have  to  speak  to  your  father  about  it.  He's  out 
here  and  wants  to  see  Dick." 

"  Why  didn't  you  say  so  ?    Tell  him  to  come  in." 

"  The  Weinberg  boy's  with  him,"  she  ventured. 

Tregressor  stiffened  as  his  eyes  met  Dick's. 
"  All  right,"  said  the  latter  quietly,  "  bring  'em 
both  in." 

"  What's  up  ?  "  queried  Dal  as  the  girl  turned 
away. 

"  Can't  guess.  Oh,  hello,  Mr.  Tregressor.  It's 
mighty  nice  in  you  to  come." 

"Hello,  Dick;  hello,  son.  Well,  well,"  he  ex 
claimed,  holding  one  of  the  lad's  hands  in  both  of 
his,  "  it's  good  to  find  you  looking  so  fit.  You  had 
a  close  call  last  night,  my  boy,  but  you  showed  us 
all  once  again  that  you're  made  of  the  right  sort  of 
stuff.  Oscar  and  I  both  want  to  tell  you  how  proud 
we  are  of  you." 

Young  Weinberg  came  to  the  side  of  the  sofa  and 
held  out  his  hand.  "  I  know  I  want  to  say  that, 
Dick,"  he  announced  heartily,  "  I  wish  I  had  the 
nerve  to  do  a  thing  like  that." 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          209 

Dai's  eyes  had  not  left  Weinberg's  face  since  he 
had  come  in,  and  his  straightforward  manner  puz 
zled  him.  "  Where's  your  father  ?  "  he  demanded 
abruptly. 

The  boy  turned  slowly  and  his  eyes  met  the 
searching  gray  ones.  "  I  don't  know,"  he  admitted ; 
"  I  wish  I  did.  There're  a  lot  of  things  I  don't 
know  that  I'd  like  to." 

Tregressor  noted  his  father's  quick  movement, 
but  checked  the  old  man's  attempt  to  interrupt. 
"  What  are  some  of  'em?  "  he  queried. 

Oscar  was  not  slow  in  sensing  the  hostility  in  the 
air  and  he  turned  squarely  on  the  man.  "  One  of 
'em  is  why  you  treat  me  as  you  do,"  he  answered 
frankly.  "  You  weren't  born  in  this  country ;  I 
was.  But  you  seem  to  think  that,  because  my  father 
came  from  Germany,  I'm  a  German.  I'm  more 
American  than  you  are.  But  no  one  seems  to  want 
to  give  me  a  chance  to  prove  it,  that  is,  no  one  but 
Mr.  Tregressor.  He  understands." 

WTiether  Dick  or  Dal  was  the  more  surprised 
would  be  hard  to  say.  The  latter  whistled  softly, 


210  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

but  Dick  settled  against  his  pillows,  his  face  reso 
lute.  In  a  flash,  it  had  come  over  him  how  Oscar 
must  have  suffered  in  the  past  two  days.  The  lad's 
expression  was  so  open,  his  eyes  so  honest,  that  not 
for  a  moment  could  Dick  question  his  honesty;  he 
could  only  try  to  master  his  sympathy.  If  ever  a 
boy  knew  what  the  sufferings  of  the  misjudged  were, 
it  was  Dick  Hall. 

"I've  doubted  you,"  he  broke  out  impulsively; 
"  I'm  mighty  sorry  I've  wronged  you." 

'  You've  been  fair  enough,  Dick.  You've  always 
been  square  with  me.  You  were  square  when  you 
thrashed  me  that  time.  I  deserved  it ;  I  was  a  bully. 
You  cured  me  of  that,  and  it  was  you  who  gave  me 
a  chance  to  get  into  the  Scouts.  I've  wanted  to  join 
ever  since  they  started.  I  can  see  what  they  mean 
here  in  Kendallville.  I  thought  no  one  wanted  me, 
until  you  sent  me  to  Mr.  Tregressor  and  he  ex 
plained." 

Dick  knew  his  face  was  scarlet.  He  had  tried  to 
be  generous  with  the  boy,  but  now  he  knew  he  had 
fallen  far  short  of  the  mark  and  it  made  him  sud- 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  211 

denly  appear  contemptible  in  his  own  eyes.  But  this 
was  because  he  was  over-generous  and  too  young  to 
appreciate  that  the  best  sort  of  victory  for  a  boy  to 
win  is  a  single-handed  victory  over  himself.  And 
that  was  the  sort  of  fight  Oscar  Weinberg  had 
waged  under  old  Mr.  Tregressor's  guiding  hand. 

It  was  Dal  who  spoke,  however.  "  You  said  I 
wasn't  an  American,"  he  charged.  "  You've  a 
whole  lot  of  new  geography  to  learn,  along  with 
your  other  new  lessons,  young  man.  The  United 
States  and  Canada  have  been  different  nations  for 
some  few  years,  but,  from  now  on,  you'll  find  'em 
both  American." 

"  I  wasn't  questioning  you,"  broke  in  Oscar;  "  I'm 
kicking  against  your  right  to  doubt  me." 

"  I  don't  doubt  you,  youngster,"  retorted  Dal. 

"  You  doubt  my  father,  don't  you  ?  " 

"I  didn't  say  so,  did  I?" 

"  You  didn't  have  to.  You've  proved  it,  the  way 
you've  been  hunting  him  all  day.  How'd  you  feel 
if  the  whole  town  was  hunting  your  father?  " 

"  Blamed  uncomfortable." 


212  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  So  do  I,"  retorted  the  boy.  "  What's  more,  if 
there's  anything  really  wrong,  I'd  be  the  first  to  find 
him,  if  I  could.  I  don't  believe  I  knew  it  till  Mr. 
Tregressor  talked  with  me ;  I  guess  I  didn't  under 
stand  what  I  am  very  well,  till  I  heard  him  read 
that  pledge  to  the  flag  and  thought  over  the  Scout 
oath  and  all  it  meant.  Now  I  know.  My  country 
comes  first.  My  country's  plain  United  States." 

"  Then  put  it  there,"  cried  Dal,  holding  out  his 
hand. 

"  Thanks."  Oscar  shook  it  solemnly  and  turned 
to  Dick  with  a  questioning  glance.  The  other  was 
as  quick  to  extend  his  hand. 

"  Guess  you  and  I'll  pull  rather  close  from  now 
on,  Oscar,"  he  said. 

"  Won't  be  my  fault  if  we  don't,  Dick." 

The  white-haired  man  smiled  that  gentle,  friendly 
smile  which  was  fast  winning  all  Kendallville  to  his 
following,  and,  leaning  back  in  the  chair  he  had 
pulled  close  to  the  couch,  looked  at  his  own  big  boy. 
"  Any  time  you  feel  inclined,  Dal,"  he  announced, 
his  eyes  twinkling,  "  you  can  go  away  from  here. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  213 

We're  going  to  talk  about  Boy  Scouts,  and  once  you 
refused  to  belong." 

"If  you're  going  to  have  one  of  your  disagree 
able  moods,  I  will.  But,  Gov'nor,"  he  went  on, 
changing  to  unexpected  earnestness,"  maybe  the  best 
of  us  make  mistakes.  I  wasn't  over-keen  on  this 
business  when  I  came  home.  I  thought  youngsters 
had  better  drill  and  learn  to  be  soldiers  and  then 
men.  But  I've  seen  you  turn  out  one  pretty  fair  sort 
of  man  in  that  bandaged  mess  there  on  the  sofa,  and 
it  looks  as  if  you'd  made  another  mighty  promising 
start  with  this  young  American  eagle.  It  must  be 
the  Scouts.  Pity  they  hadn't  started  when  I  was 
a  kid." 

The  father's  eyes  met  the  son's  and  there  was  a 
wealth  of  both  pride  and  love  in  them.  "  You're 
right  about  these  boys,"  he  admitted,  "  but  I  didn't 
make  a  great  success  with  you.  One  has  to  have  a 
few  grains  of  modesty  on  which  to  build." 

"  About  here,"  chuckled  Dal,  "  is  where  I  crawl 
into  a  deep  dug-out  and  pull  the  roof  in  after  me. 
I  may  never  know  much,  but  sometime  I  do  hope 


214  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

I  will  know  enough  not  to  joke  with  you,  sir.  As 
they  say  out  West,  boys,  he's  '  bad  medicine.'  " 

Somehow  or  other  the  idea  that  even  Mr.  Tregres- 
sor  could  turn  a  smile  in  Dai's  direction  aroused 
all  Dick's  wealth  of  loyalty.  He  did  not  under 
stand  that  the  two  men  were  trying  to  hide  the 
deep  affection  which  surged  between  them,  or 
that  both  were  trying  royally  to  make  Oscar 
Weinberg  comfortable.  "  Dai's  been  mighty  handy 
for  me,"  he  announced.  "  He's  helped  me  with 
my  signaling  a  lot.  I'm  getting  to  be  quite  the 
expert." 

"  Still  more  modesty !  "  groaned  the  big  chap. 
"  Now,  Weinberg,  you  boast  a  bit  and  cover  father's 
head  with  ashes." 

"  I'm  afraid  I've  nothing  much  to  be  proud  of," 
confessed  the  lad. 

"  Buck  up  and  find  something  then,"  retorted  Dal 
instantly.  "  A  fellow  never  amounts  to  anything 
till  he  does." 

"  If  there  are  to  be  any  sermons  to  be  preached, 
that's  my  field,"  broke  in  Mr.  Tregressor.  "  You 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          215 

can  listen  for  a  while,  if  you  want.  You  say  you're 
always  willing  to  try  anything  once." 

"  Go  ahead,"  ordered  the  son,  "  I'm  done." 

"  Dick,"  began  Mr.  Tregressor,  "  Tom  and  Billy 
and  Longshanks  have  gone  already,  and  more  of  the 
Kendallville  boys  will  go  before  the  war's  much 
older.  They've  left  a  big  gap  in  their  homes,  and 
I  imagine  we've  left  a  big  gap  in  their  hearts.  All 
over  the  country  there  are  other  boys  and  other 
Kendallvilles.  These  boys  who've  gone  to  the  col 
ors  have  new  interests,  but  the  home  interests  will 
cling  and  they'll  long  for  home  news  when  they're 
thousands  of  miles  away." 

"You  bet  they  will!"  declared  Dal.  "You've 
sure  said  something  this  time,  Gov'nor." 

The  old  man  nodded.  "  Oscar  and  I  have  been 
talking  it  over,  along  with  a  lot  of  things,  and  that's 
why  we've  come  to  see  you,  Dick.  Oscar's  going 
to  be  a  Scout  and  a  good  Scout.  Before  this  war's 
very  much  older  I've  an  idea  there'll  be  an  entirely 
new  feature  in  Scouting  and  Oscar  wants  to  be 
among  the  first  to  take  it  up.  It  will  be  known, 


216  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

wherever  our  army  and  navy  goes  as  '  The  Big 
Brothers.'  Every  Scout  will  have  a  Big  Brother 
with  the  colors,  and  write  him  at  least  once  a  week." 

"  And  right  here's  where  I  declare  myself  in  on 
this,"  cried  Dal  Tregressor.  "  Oscar,  you  and  I'll 
start  a  new  patrol,  and  we'll  be  the  Carrier  Pigeons." 

"No,  you  won't,"  contradicted  Dick.  "You'll 
both  join  the  Beavers." 

"  But  I'm  not  through,"  pleaded  Mr.  Tregressor. 
"  Each  Little  Brother  will  have  other  privileges. 
He'll  make  it  a  point  to  visit  the  homes  of  the  boys 
who  have  gone,  and  see  what  he  can  do  to  help 
there.  In  every  way  he'll  try  to  take  the  place  of 
the  boy  who  has  gone." 

"  Fine !  "  cried  Dick.  "  Fine !  Of  course  we'll 
do  it.  We'll  be  proud  to." 

Dal  Tregressor  rose  impulsively  and,  striding  to 
his  father's  side,  laid  his  one  good  hand  on  the  old 
shoulder.  "  I  wish  we  were  worthy  of  you,"  he 
said  simply  and  walked  out  of  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XII 

OUT   OF   THE   AIR 

IN  spite  of  the  loyalty  of  his  friends,  who  came 
to  see  him  whenever  they  could  find  stray  half  hours, 
Dick  would  have  found  the  next  week  dull,  had  it 
not  been  for  Mr.  Tregressor.  The  wise  old  man 
had  proven  a  good  judge  of  character,  and  now 
began  to  reap  the  reward  for  the  gentle  guidance  he 
had  given  the  unsuspecting  lad.  In  their  long  talks, 
the  spiritual  side  of  the  boy  began  to  appear  in  a 
more  certain  light  and  he  knew  that  Dick  must  ulti 
mately  develop  into  a  vital  force  in  Kendallville,  and 
when  that  day  came  that  he  would  be  a  living  mon 
ument  to  the  ideals  of  Scouting. 

They  talked  much  of  the  new  "  Big  Brother  " 
movement,  laid  many  plans  and  drew  up  lists,  but 
they  also  found  time  to  delve  still  deeper  into  signal 
ing,  for  now  Dick  could  read  the  Morse  code  and 

217 


218  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

was  learning  to  send  with  key,  as  well  as  flag.  His 
burns  healed  slowly,  but  still  slower  was  his  recovery 
from  the  nervous  shock.  He  confessed  to  Dal  Tre- 
gressor  that  when  that  door  crashed  in,  and  the 
flames  leaped  toward  him,  he  thought  that  the  end 
had  come. 

Stephen  Kendall,  too,  came  to  see  him  almost 
every  day,  and,  in  spite  of  his  pleadings,  refused  to 
allow  him  to  go  back  to  work  until  he  had  completely 
recovered.  In  this  Mr.  Hall  agreed,  and,  as  Dick's 
pay  went  on,  he  had  no  grounds  for  complaint. 

When  he  was  able  to  be  about  for  a  few  hours  a 
day,  Mr.  Kendall  turned  over  all  the  paper  work  of 
the  Kendall  Guard  to  him.  It  kept  him  occupied 
until  he  was  strong  enough  to  take  part  in  the  drills. 
Here  his  squad  took  it  upon  themselves  to  see  that 
he  did  not  over-do,  trying  their  best  to  save  him  all 
that  was  possible,  with  the  result  that  the  youngsters 
were  soon  the  stars  of  the  company. 

Of  Dal  Tregressor  he  saw  not  half  as  much  as 
he  wanted.  A  new  and  troubled  expression  had 
come  into  the  depths  of  the  frank  eyes,  and,  at  times, 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          219 

the  man  was  moody.  The  failure  of  his  men  on 
that  night  of  the  fire  weighed  more  heavily  on  hon 
est  Dal  than  any  one  dreamed. 

In  his  more  drastic  orders  he  had  the  backing  of 
the  Kendalls.  Like  him,  they  believed  their  plant 
was  marked  for  destruction.  The  fact  that  Otto 
Weinberg  was  still  among  the  missing,  and  with  him 
Schwartz,  and  half  a  dozen  others,  did  not  add  to 
their  peace  of  mind.  Certainly  it  brought  Dal  Tre- 
gressor  no  semblance  of  comfort.  He  would  have 
given  his  other  hand  for  ten  seconds  alone  with 
Weinberg,  for  he  was  convinced  that  the  German 
was  at  the  root  of  the  whole  affair. 

But  what  troubled  them  all,  "Bullet"  and 
Stephen  Kendall  in  their  confidential  talks,  Dal  and 
Dick  in  their  brief  conferences,  and  the  majority 
of  the  men  in  the  factory,  was  the  complete  dis 
appearance  of  Jim  Scott.  He  had  not  been  seen 
since  Tregressor's  guard  had  spied  that  second  figure 
fleeing  into  the  night. 

Dick  thought  of  Scott  often  during  that  first  long 
week  and  still  more  often,  when,  following  Dai's  ad- 


220  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

vice,  he  began  to  take  long  tramps  in  the  country  in 
order  to  build  up  his  strength.  Once  or  twice  Mr. 
Tregressor  went  with  him,  and  the  boy  learnt  more 
and  more  about  the  wood-craft  he  had  studied  only 
in  theory.  Once  or  twice  Oscar  Weinberg  was  his 
companion,  and  both  boys  learned  how  an  unex 
pected  friendship  can  ripen  into  true  comradeship 
in  the  great  out-of-doors. 

So  passed  another  week  and  Dick,  almost  himself 
again,  planned  to  return  to  work  on  Monday  night. 
Sunday  came  clear  and  beautiful,  an  ideal  day  in  the 
fields,  and,  after  dinner,  the  boy  slipped  on  his  khaki 
and  started  for  a  final  tramp.  He  stopped  a  mo 
ment  at  the  Tregressors',  but  found  Dal  was  at  the 
factory,  so  decided  to  go  alone. 

He  cleared  the  town  with  swinging  strides,  head 
up  and  drawing  long  breaths  of  the  clear,  fresh  air. 
It  was  good  to  be  in  the  open.  As  he  came  to  the 
first  broad  fields,  he  began  to  whistle.  There  was 
pleasure  even  in  the  soft  dust  which  puffed,  in  little 
clouds,  under  his  hurrying  feet.  For  he  did  hurry, 
not  because  anything  was  driving  him,  but  because 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  221 

something  within  him  seemed  to  be  calling,  calling 
—  urging  him  to  make  the  most  of  this  last  hike  and 
enjoy  the  afternoon  to  the  full. 

All  of  his  old  strength  and  spirits  came  back.  He 
felt  like  a  colt  turned  loose  and  started  to  run. 
Then  came  the  temptation  to  try  out  to  the  full  the 
value  of  the  Scout  step.  Back  into  a  steady  heel 
and  toe  he  dropped  for  fifty  steps,  then  broke  into  a 
trot  for  another  fifty,  and  alternated  between  them 
as  he  "  ate  up  "  the  road.  The  pace  did  not  tell  on 
his  strength.  He  kept  at  it  for  several  miles. 

Then  a  brook,  bubbling  down  from  the  mountain 
which  guarded  the  head  of  the  valley,  crossed  the 
wooded  road  and  proved  too  great  a  temptation  to 
resist.  Stealing  through  the  brush,  he  crept  to  the 
edge  of  the  bank,  and  lay  flat  on  his  stomach.  The 
reward  was  worth  the  work.  For  twenty  minutes 
he  lay  within  three  feet  of  that  half  pound  trout, 
watching  his  slow  moving  fins. 

It  was  cool  and  sweet  by  the  brook.  The  idea 
came  to  follow  it  up  into  the  mountain.  Easy,  at 
first,  the  going  soon  became  harder.  It  would  be 


222  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

fun,  and  much  easier,  to  guess  at  the  course,  cut 
corners  and  see  if  he  had  sized  up  the  topography 
correctly.  The  new  game  was  fascinating.  It 
brought  map  making  to  his  mind.  He  had  heard 
Dal  talk  of  that  many  times.  He  decided  to  map 
the  brook  for  half  a  mile.  And  then  he  remem 
bered  that,  while  he  had  paper  and  pencil,  he  had 
no  compass. 

A  moment  later  his  laughter  rang  out  clear.  Of 
what  use  were  all  the  things  Mr.  Tregressor  had 
taught  him,  if  he  could  not  apply  them  in  case  of 
need?  His  watch  and  the  sun  gave  him  as  good  a 
compass  as  any  one  could  ask.  He  went  ahead 
more  carefully  now,  jotting  down  notes  as  he  clam 
bered. 

The  brook  began  to  get  more  ambitious.  The 
climbing  became  harder.  A  ruffed  grouse  went  up 
almost  from  between  his  feet  and  left  him  open- 
mouthed  with  surprise.  He  was  tempted  to  follow 
its  flight,  and  as  he  looked  through  the  trees  to  the 
south,  he  caught  a  vista  of  the  valley  stretching  away 
at  his  feet. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  223 

It  was  so  peaceful,  so  beautiful,  that  he  looked 
about  for  a  better  viewpoint.  Above  him,  the  rocks 
rose  in  a  sharp  cliff.  He  scaled  it  with  some  diffi 
culty  and  found  himself  on  a  broad  shelf,  the  whole 
valley  open  before  him,  the  wooded  crest  of  the 
mountain  over  his  right  shoulder.  The  view  was 
the  most  entrancing  he  had  ever  seen.  He  sat 
down,  his  back  against  a  bowlder,  and  drank  it  in 
with  thirsty  eyes. 

It  began  to  dawn  upon  him  why  he  had  never 
been  there.  Kendallville  was  really  a  long  way  off. 
Only  a  few  of  the  houses  showed,  like  white  dots 
embroidered  on  a  soft,  green  background.  No  one 
could  dream,  as  he  sat  so  far  and  so  high  above  it, 
that  any  evil  force  threatened  the  peace  of  the  town, 
or  the  factory  which  gave  it  life. 

The  longer  he  lay  there  in  the  sunshine,  the 
further  drifted  his  thoughts  until  they  became  those 
dreams  of  doing  which  every  healthy  boy  has,  but 
never  tells.  Again  his  eyes  began  to  take  in  the 
details  of  the  valley,  and  he  saw  what  a  wonderful 
station  for  a  flag-man  was  this  very  spot  on  which 


224  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

he  sat.  With  a  glass,  Dal  Tregressor,  in  the  factory 
yard,  could  read  any  message  he  might  wig-wag. 
Idly,  his  hands  began  to  move  in  quick  arcs.  But 
it  was  too  much  exertion  on  such  a  lovely  day. 
With  a  comfortable  little  sigh,  he  snuggled  more 
comfortably  against  the  rock  and  stretched  his  legs 
further  in  front  of  him. 

Dreams  gave  place  to  oblivion.  He  came  to 
with  a  shiver.  Not  only  was  it  cold,  but  it  was  dark. 
With  a  quick  gasp,  he  realized  that  he  had  slept  the 
sun  out  of  the  sky  and  that  he  was  alone,  high  on  a 
strange  mountain-side.  If  the  climb  had  been  hard, 
the  descent  would  be  harder.  He  sprang  to  his  feet. 
Far  to  the  south  he  saw  the  slender,  sweeping  beam 
of  the  searchlight  Dal  had  had  mounted  on  the  roof 
of  the  new  shop. 

He  was  anything  but  afraid.  He  knew  no  one 
would  worry  at  home  because  he  failed  to  arrive  in 
time  for  supper.  His  own  difficulties  were  more 
real.  That  steep  cliff  he  had  had  trouble  in  scaling 
in  full  day,  would  be  far  more  difficult  to  descend 
in  inky  darkness. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  225 

Springing  to  his  feet  he  walked  to  the  edge.  If 
he  had  been  so  foolish  as  to  go  to  sleep  in  the  sun 
shine,  he  would  be  game  enough  to  pay  the  price  of 
his  laziness.  But,  as  he  peered  over  the  edge  into 
nothingness,  it  didn't  look  quite  such  a  joke.  He 
had  a  few  matches  in  his  pocket.  He  struck  one 
and  found  the  scars  made  by  his  knees  in  the  dry 
dust  where  he  had  pulled  himself  up. 

He  lay  down,  and  dropping  his  legs  over  the  edge, 
clutched  a  crevice  with  his  fingers  as  his  toes 
searched  for  a  hole.  It  didn't  appear  so  easy  to 
find.  His  teeth  closed  more  tightly  and  his  feet 
moved  with  growing  caution.  If  he  had  made  a 
mistake  in  picking  his  location,  he  might  be  in  for 
a  nasty  fall.  As  he  swayed,  he  raised  his  face  to 
the  mountain  above  him. 

All  at  once  his  struggling  ceased.  Anxiety  in  his 
eyes  gave  place  to  wonder.  His  lips  parted.  His 
fingers  grew  cold  as  he  gripped  the  rough  rock.  His 
throat  felt  dry,  then  a  big  lump  came  into  it  and  his 
heart  began  to  pump  until  his  breath  came  in  little, 
short  gasps.  Above  him,  and  to  the  north  where 


226  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

he  had  noticed  thick  masses  of  spruce,  a  strange, 
blue-white  spark  gleamed,  faded,  gleamed  and  faded 
in  vicious,  piercing  flashes. 

Every  muscle  in  his  body  tautened  like  steel  wires. 
Without  realizing  it  he  pulled  himself  back  onto  the 
rock  and  flattened  out  on  it  like  a  stamp  on  an 
envelope,  his  eyes  glued  to  the  black  spot  where  the 
blue  light  had  been.  It  came  again,  regularly  now, 
and,  with  a  gasp,  he  realized  that  it  meant  some 
thing  to  him,  that  he,  Dick  Hall,  was  reading  the 
Morse  code  aloud  as  it  was  flashed  out  into  space, 
by  what  could  only  be  a  very  real  wireless  set  up  in 
the  open. 

He  knew  his  body  was  trembling  but  his  brain  was 
steady.  Dot  and  dash  and  dot  he  could  make  out, 
but  then  some  waving  branch  would  come  between 
his  eyes  and  the  spark  and  he  would  be  forced  to 
guess  at  the  missing  letters.  But  what  he  could 
piece  out  told  him  a  story  which  made  a  shiver  run 
down  his  spine.  Weinberg  and  his  crowd  were  a 
mystery  no  longer. 

He  pulled  himself  together,  and,  still  flat  on  his 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  227 

stomach,  tried  to  think  out  what  was  best  to  do.  If 
Dal  Tregressor  had  only  come  with  him !  He  enter 
tained  the  idea  of  rushing  back  to  Kendallville, 
rousing  the  Home  Guard  and  factory  guards  and 
surrounding  the  mountain.  Then  came  the  realiza 
tion  that,  if  he  arrived  with  such  a  wild  story  of  a 
wireless  on  a  lonely  mountain-side,  they  would  laugh 
at  him  and  say  it  was  but  a  continuation  of  his 
dreams.  But  he  knew  better  than  that.  There  was 
the  spark  again.  It  could  not  be  far  away.  It  was 
his  duty  to  secure  full  evidence.  Without  giving 
his  own  danger  a  thought,  he  began  to  crawl  slowly 
up,  feeling  each  inch  with  his  fingers,  making  every 
move  with  bated  breath. 

Five  minutes  and  he  thought  he  could  hear  the 
crackling  hiss  of  the  spark.  The  murmur  of  the 
spruce  was  too  loud  to  permit  the  reading  of  the  mes 
sage.  It  -  was  on  his  eyes  alone  he  must  rely  — 
his  eyes  backed  by  the  wood-craft  Mr.  Tregressor 
had  taught  the  boys  of  the  Beaver  patrol. 

Steadily,  slowly,  with  a  caution  of  which  he  had 
never  before  supposed  himself  capable,  he  got  his 


228  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

knee  under  him,  then  one  foot,  then  the  other.  Like 
a  shadow  he  writhed  into  the  greater  shadow  of  the 
big  spruce.  For  a  moment  he  waited,  lest  some 
noise  he  had  not  heard  himself,  might  have  been 
heard  by  others.  Then  he  peered  out.  He  could 
see  nothing.  Any  moment  the  sending  might  stop. 
He  must  catch,  and  read,  part  of  it ;  he  must  have  a 
definite  clew,  no  matter  what  the  risk  to  himself. 
If  they  saw  him,  he  could  make  a  break  down  the 
mountainside.  It  would  be  a  desperate  race  and  the 
best  man  would  win. 

He  stole  to  another  tree,  then  to  another  and  a 
third,  always  nearer  to  where  he  had  last  seen  the 
flashes.  Over  and  over  he  repeated  the  words 
he  had  picked  up.  "  To-morrow  night  chosen. 
Al  — "  Then  had  come  the  break.  He  must  know 
what  came  after  that  "  al."  Was  everything  "  Al 
ready?"  Were  "All  safe."  One  thing  he  never 
questioned.  To-morrow  night  something  was  to 
happen  at  the  Kendall  factory.  Every  nerve  within 
him  told  him  that.  But  this  time  he  fought  in  the 
dark  and  alone. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  229 

Then,  of  a  sudden,  the  darkness  was  broken. 
Within  thirty  feet  of  him  the  blue  spark  crackled. 
He  caught  the  code  for  "  Repeat  "  before  he  could 
recover  sufficiently  from  his  astonishment  at  rind 
ing  himself  so  near,  to  jump  back  to  safety. 

He  knew  some  message  had  been  received,  knew 
that  its  sender  had  demanded  that  it  be  repeated 
back,  so  that  there  might  be  no  mistake,  knew  that 
if  he  could  catch  it,  it  would  be  all  he  needed. 
Came  the  hiss  of  fast-sent  dots  and  dashes.  With 
every  nerve  strained,  with  every  faculty  alert, 
Dick  Hall  listened.  "  Destruction  of  plant  vital. 
Blow—" 

A  great  hand  gripped  the  back  of  his  neck  and  he 
was  hurled  to  the  ground  with  a  crash.  The  next 
instant  a  heavy  knee  sank  into  his  chest  and  he  felt 
a  cold,  small  circle  pressing  his  temple.  "  Move 
and  you're  dead !  "  hissed  a  voice. 

Then  came  a  gruff  startled  cry,  a  grunted  answer 
and  the  crash  of  running  feet.  The  next  moment 
a  flash-light  threw  a  silver  ring  among  the  trees. 
Dick  gasped,  gulped,  then  closed  his  eyes.  Instinc- 


230  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

lively  he  knew  who  it  was  who  towered  above  him. 
"  Do  it,  you  spy!  "  he  challenged. 

But  Weinberg  merely  laughed  contemptuously. 
"  Bind  him,"  he  ordered. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE   WEAK   LINK 

NUMBED  to  the  bone  with  the  cold,  he  lay  through 
out  the  long  night  where  they  had  bound  him. 
Much  he  was  sure  of  now;  the  rest  he  thought  he 
could  guess.  But  guessing  was  not  his  greatest 
problem.  He  must  find  some  way  to  escape,  some 
means  of  getting  word  back  to  Kendall ville,  some 
method  of  informing  Stephen  Kendall  and  Dal  Tre- 
gressor  that  grave  danger  hovered  close.  Yet, 
roped  hand  and  foot,  unable  to  do  more  than  roll 
like  a  log  from  side  to  side,  he  could  find  no  ray  of 
hope  in  the  darkness  which  engulfed  him. 

What  little  thought  he  gave  to  himself  was  all 
of  bewilderment.  He  could  not  understand  Wein- 
berg's  attitude  of  indifference  toward  him.  The 
least  he  had  expected,  as  he  went  down,  was  a  beat 
ing  which  should  have  left  him  insensible.  Know 
ing  his  man,  he  could  not  fathom  his  neglect  to  settle 
his  long-standing  grudge. 

an 


232  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

At  last  the  dawn  drove  the  lazy  stars  out  of  the 
sky.  Birds  began  to  sing,  as  if  only  happiness  and 
peace  lay  over  the  valley.  The  sun  came  up  and 
again  shadows  spread  through  the  spruce.  From 
time  to  time,  Dick  heard  the  sound  of  voices.  He 
could  distinguish  no  words,  but  it  was  apparent  that 
one  man  gave  orders  which  the  rest  hurried  to  obey. 
Pie  heard  pounding,  then  the  grunts  of  men  lifting 
some  heavy  object.  It  came  over  him  that  the  wire 
less  apparatus  was  being  dismantled  and  packed. 
Then  he  heard  the  thud  of  a  pick  and  the  scrape  of  a 
shovel.  Afraid  to  risk  carrying  it  away,  the  men 
were  burying  the  outfit  until,  at  some  later  day,  it 
could  be  removed  in  safety.  Its  work  was  done. 

It  made  him  wild  to  be  so  helpless.  If  he  could 
only  see  what  was  being  done,  where  the  thing  was 
being  hidden,  he  would  be  of  some  value.  As  it 
was,  he  was  utterly  useless.  Here,  almost  within 
arm's  reach  of  the  heart  of  some  grave  plot,  he  was 
as  valueless  to  all  he  held  dear  as  were  the  sticks 
which  jabbed  him  in  the  back  and  sides.  Desperate, 
he  tried  to  roll  nearer  the  scene  of  their  work. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  233 

He  could  make  little  progress.  Trees  and  under 
brush  blocked  him  at  every  painful  turn.  The  ropes 
cut  into  his  wrists  but  he  struggled  with  dogged 
courage.  The  idea  of  rolling  in  the  direction  of 
safety  never  occurred  to  him.  His  teachings,  as 
well  as  his  desire,  all  lay  in  the  way  of  duty  first. 

A  little  slope  gave  him  a  quickly  accepted  chance. 
Over  and  over  he  rolled  until  he  brought  up  with  a 
bump  against  the  stub  of  an  ancient  tree.  Shock 
and  surprise  drew  a  smothered  exclamation  from 
him.  It  was  enough.  The  next  moment  big 
Schwartz  came  leaping  toward  him.  "Ach!"  he 
growled,  "  Is  it  that  you  are  yet  curious?  " 

Dick,  savage  over  his  own  carelessness,  made  no 
answer. 

"  What  want  you  here?  " 

Still  the  boy  was  silent  For  a  moment,  the  man 
glared  at  him,  puzzled.  Then,  with  a  shrug  of  his 
great  shoulders,  he  swooped  down,  swung  the 
trussed  body  onto  his  back  and  bore  him  to  where 
a  tiny  shack  stood,  half  concealed,  in  a  thicket. 
Through  the  open  door  into  the  dark  interior  he 


234  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

strode,  then,  tossing  the  lad  into  a  corner,  turned 
and  slammed  the  door  as  he  went  out. 

For  a  long  time  Dick  did  not  move.  No  noise 
came  to  disturb  him.  All  there  was  to  do  was  to 
regret  the  mistake  he  had  made  in  rolling  so  care 
lessly.  It  gave  him  small  comfort.  He  knew  his 
chances  of  doing  anything  to  save  the  plant  had 
diminished  to  almost  nothing.  He  could  see  no 
way  to  free  himself,  no  way  to  get  past  that  closed 
door.  Yet,  if  he  could,  what  chance  remained? 

He  lay  there  thinking,  thinking.  Becoming  used 
to  the  dim  light,  his  eyes  could  make  out  the  vague 
form  of  rough  rafters  and  rougher  bunks  against 
the  walls.  Apparently  the  shack  had  been  used  as 
a  camp  even  before  that  night  of  the  fire.  He  had  a 
dim  recollection  of  having  heard  it  said  that  Wein- 
berg  and  Schwartz  were  great  walkers. 

He  traced  back  many  loose  threads  to  this  com 
mon  center.  He  knew  now  where  the  gang  had 
disappeared.  He  tried  to  figure  how  they  had  set 
up  their  wireless,  where  its  messages  went,  who  sent 
the  replies.  But,  as  he  thought,  a  new  sensation 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          235 

began  to  creep  over  him.  He  felt  uncomfortable, 
as  if  some  one  were  staring  at  him  from  out  of  the 
dark,  as  if  there  were  some  unseen  enemy  lurking 
there  in  the  blackness.  "Who's  there?"  he  de 
manded  sharply. 

"  Sh ! "  The  warning  came  sharp  and  low. 
Dick's  tight  nerves  tautened. 

"  Who  are  you?  "  he  whispered. 

"That  you,  Dick?" 

"Yes.     Who  are  you?" 

"  Scott." 

The  boy  felt  sudden  nausea.  It  had  been  bad 
enough  to  suspect ;  it  was  far  worse  to  have  suspicion 
confirmed.  Surely  this  plot  was  unfolding  rapidly. 
Scott  was  out  in  the  open  at  last;  Scott,  the 
man  who  tried  to  worm  his  way  to  friendship,  the 
man  who  had  tried  to  use  a  boy  as  a  stool  pigeon,  the 
man  who  was  willing  to  risk  another's  reputation  in 
order  to  cover  his  own  tracks.  "  Oh !  "  was  his  only 
answer.  Yet  it  contained,  far  better  than  many 
words,  the  full  measure  of  his  repugnance. 

"  Don't  be  a   fool ! "  came  Scott's  calm  voice. 


236  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  They're  all  outside ;  they'll  be  back  anytime. 
We've  got  to  get  together.  You  threw  an  awful 
scare  into  'em  last  night.  They  think  their  trail's 
discovered.  They're  watching.  Who  was  with 
you?  Who's  coming?  How  much  do  they  know 
down  at  the  plant  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think  I'll  tell  you  anything?  " 

"  Was  Tregressor  with  you?  " 

Dick  set  his  teeth.  It  took  every  ounce  of  his 
self-control  to  contain  his  desire  to  lash  out  at  the 
man.  Only  his  innate  chivalry,  and  the  fear  of 
dropping  some  hint  which  might  prove  of  value, 
kept  him  quiet. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  "  exclaimed  Scott  desperately. 
"  Your  life  isn't  worth  a  cent  here.  Can't  you  see 
that  we  may  be  able  to  do  together  what  we  couldn't 
do  alone?  " 

"  I'm  through  talking.  I'll  take  what's  coming  to 
me.  What  you  get  is  up  to  you.  I  hope  it's  what 
you  deserve." 

"Quit  thinking  about  yourself,  you  chump! 
There's  more  at  stake  than  you  and  me.  If  we 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          237 

don't  break  loose  before  night,  the  Kendall  factory 
goes  up  in  dust,  and  then  who  takes  over  those  con 
tracts,  who  makes  the  pistols  you  gave  up  going  to 
the  front  to  help  make?  I  don't  care  what  you 
think  of  me;  I'm  thinking  of  that  factory." 

"  What  changed  you  ?  "  sneered  the  boy.  "  Get 
ting  ready  to  wish  this  on  some  one  else,  the  way 
you  put  your  stealing  on  me?  " 

He  knew  Scott's  body  stiffened.  He  felt,  with 
out  being  able  to  see,  the  change  which  came  over  the 
man,  and,  in  the  silence  which  followed  his  taunt,  he 
regretted  his  words  as  unworthy  of  a  man,  even 
under  extreme  provocation.  "  I'm  sorry  I  said 
that,"  he  admitted.  "I  guess  I'm  thinking  of  it 
in  a  different  way.  I  don't  understand  you.  Let  it 
go  at  that." 

Scott  paid  scant  attention  to  this  awkward 
apology.  His  thoughts  were  too  busy  with  more 
important  things,  and  he  weighed  them  very  care 
fully.  "  I  did  steal  from  Weinberg's  office,"  he 
stated.  "  The  worst  part  of  it  was,  Weinberg  got 
suspicious  next  day.  He  had  to  put  through  his 


238  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

bluff  then.  That's  why  I'm  here.  If  I  could  have 
kept  it  on  you  there'd  have  been  no  danger  now. 
He'd  have  been  where  he  couldn't  do  any  harm,  he 
and  Schwartz's  whole  gang." 

"  Schwartz's  ? "  Dick's  voice  showed  interest 
now. 

"  Sure !  Weinberg's  an  underling.  Schwartz  is 
the  main  guy.  It  was  his  orders  to  Weinberg  to  tie 
up  the  plant  with  a  strike  that  I  stole." 

"  But  why  did  you  want  'em  ?  " 

"  Because  it's  my  business  to  get  the  evidence  I'm 
ordered  to  get." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?     Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  I'm  a  poor  simp  who's  overreached  himself,"  he 
retorted  with  a  grim  laugh.  "  Before  they  caught 
me,  that  night  of  the  fire,  bound  me  and  lugged  me 
here,  I  thought  I  was  a  fairly  clever  Secret  Service 
man." 

"  You ! "  Dick  came  over  on  his  side  with  a 
twist.  "  You  in  the  Secret  Service  ?  Oh,  Jim,  why 
didn't  you  tell  me  ?  " 

His  voice  was  so  disconsolate,  that,  in  spite  of 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  239 

their  predicament,  a  smile  played  around  the  corners 
of  Scott's  mouth.  "  I  wasn't  advertising  much," 
he  answered.  "  Only  Kendall  knew  why  I  was 
there.  We'd  tipped  him  off  to  look  out,  but  had 
made  him  swear  to  keep  still.  Other  plants  are 
threatened.  There's  — "  He  stopped.  "  I'm  talk 
ing  too  much,"  he  said. 

"  That  accounts  for  Sergeant  Baker's  having  said 
he'd  seen  you,"  said  the  boy  thoughtfully. 

"  The  big  boob !  "  exploded  Jim.  "  He  nearly 
queered  my  whole  game.  Sure  he'd  seen  me!  I 
helped  clean  up  a  gang  he  was  after  out  West.  Do 
you  believe  me  now,  youngster?  " 

"  Down  in  my  heart,  I  guess  I've  always  believed 
in  you.  Only  it  wasn't  like  you  to  let  me  stand  it 
all  alone." 

"  Knew  you'd  do  it  quick  enough,  if  you  realized 
how  big  a  service  you  were  doing.  I  tried  to  square 
you  with  Kendall,  but  he  said  you  didn't  need  my 
help.  Told  me  to  count  on  you.  If  we  both  weren't 
tied,  I'd  count  on  you  a  lot  more,"  he  added.  "  Sup 
pose  you  tell  me  what  you're  doing  here," 


240  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Suppose  it  that  you  shut  up,"  growled  a  voice, 
and,  the  next  instant,  big,  square  Schwartz  strode 
through  the  door,  followed  by  a  dapper,  firm-step 
ping  stranger  with  a  bristling  blonde  beard. 

"Silence!"  commanded  the  latter.  "I  will  do 
the  necessary  questioning.  You  have  muddled 
things  sufficiently." 

Schwartz  wilted  under  the  curt  reprimand.  Dick 
knew  now  whose  intelligence  was  behind  that  wire 
less  plant.  The  man  stepped  close  to  his  side,  and, 
stooping  suddenly,  jerked  him  to  his  feet.  The 
strength  in  the  close-knit  body  seemed  almost  super 
human.  The  blue  eyes  snapped  as  they  settled  on 
the  boy's  face. 

"  Pouf ! "  he  said  disgustedly.  "  An  oaf, 
Schwartz.  You  and  your  curs  are  losing  your  cour 
age.  .  It's  a  boy." 

"  It's  a  clever  boy,"  mumbled  Schwartz. 

"  Silence !     Weinberg !  "  he  called. 

The  big  man  hurried  in,  his  face  flushed. 

"  Is  this  youngling  of  the  Kendall  force?  " 

"  Yes,  sir," 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  241 

"Important  to  us?" 

"  He  is  the  favorite  of  Kendall  the  Younger.  He 
may  know  much." 

"  Doesn't  look  it."  The  man's  contempt  was  an 
evident  trick  to  enrage  the  lad.  Dick  didn't  need 
Scott's  short  laugh  to  warn  him.  The  man  spun 
on  his  heel.  "  From  you  enough,"  he  snapped. 
"  Your  present  position  tells  its  own  tale  of  your  in 
telligence." 

"  You're  a  long  way  from  home  yet,"  retorted 
Jim  coldly. 

"  That  is  my  affair." 

"  We've  one  thing  in  common,"  grunted  Scott 
"When  do  I  eat?" 

"Swine!" 

He  turned  back  to  the  boy.  "  How  did  you  come 
here  ?  "  he  shot  out. 

"  Walked." 

"  Is  it  possible !  Are  you  much  given  to  walking 
over  the  property  of  other  people?  " 

"  If  I'm  trespassing  on  yours,  take  me  into  court." 

'*  You're  apt  to  go  elsewhere,  my  pert  young 


242  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

friend.  Keep  a  civil  tongue  in  your  head  and  an 
swer  me  as  I  should  be  answered." 

"  He  hasn't  got  a  gun,"  observed  Scott  sorrow 
fully. 

"  From  you,  enough.  More,  and  the  gag  shall  be 
replaced." 

"  Make  it  food  and  go  as  far  as  you  like,"  sug 
gested  Scott  carelessly.  "  You  won't  get  much  sat 
isfaction  out  of  that  kid." 

Dick,  quick  to  recognize  that  the  clash  between 
these  two  men  was  of  long  standing,  marveled  at 
Scott's  nerve.  For  a  helpless  man,  he  took  des 
perate  chances.  Dick  could  be  as  game.  As  he 
faced  his  questioner,  Dal  Tregressor's  motto  for  the 
Beaver  patrol  flashed  across  his  mind.  Scott  was 
living  up  to  that  very  thing  and  doing  it  against 
fearful  odds.  He,  too,  could  face  odds  with  a 
laugh. 

"  How  many  men  guard  the  Kendall  factory  at 
night  ?  "  The  question  cracked  out  like  a  shot  and 
a  strong  hand  gripped  the  boy's  wrists  and  bent 
his  arms  upward  until  the  pain  became  sharp. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE  243 

"  Going  to  try  torturing  me,  are  you  ?  It  won't 
get  you  anywhere." 

"  We'll  test  that."  The  arms  were  pushed  higher. 
"How  many?" 

"  Quit  that  and  I'll  tell." 

Scott  gasped,  but  an  exclamation  of  triumph  came 
from  the  man.  "Quick!"  he  ordered. 

"  Well,  let  me  make  sure,"  began  the  boy,  as  if 
counting.  "  There's  the  popcorn  man  with  his  pop 
per,  a  couple  of  kids  with  tin  swords  and, —  oh, 
enough  to  beat  you  up,  all  right." 

"  Swine !  "  An  angry  palm  slapped  the  boy  full 
in  the  mouth.  "  Have  you  searched  him?  "  he  de 
manded,  whirling  on  Schwartz. 

"  No." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  There  was  no  mistaking  his  anger. 
"  Do  it." 

Both  Weinberg  and  Schwartz  leaped  to  the  work. 
In  a  moment  Dick's  pockets  were  inside  out.  The 
contents  were  more  varied  than  interesting.  It  was 
the  leader  himself  who  swooped  down  on  a  bit  of 
paper  in  the  heap.  Smoothing  it,  he  strode  nearer 


244  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

the  door,  his  face  black  as  he  studied  it.  "  Who 
made  this  map?  "  he  challenged. 

"What  map?" 

"  Of  the  approach  by  way  of  the  stream." 

Dick  remembered  the  game  he  had  played  on  the 
previous  afternoon.  "  Oh,  that!  "  he  said. 

"  Yes,  that" 

"  Good,  isn't  it?     We  all  carry  those," 

"Who's 'we'?" 

"  Why,"  answered  Dick  innocently,  "  maybe  a 
lot  of  fools  like  me;  maybe  the  fifty  or  so  men 
around  the  foot  of  the  mountain." 

"  That's  a  lie,"  stated  the  man,  tearing  the  page 
to  bits  and  tossing  them  through  the  doorway. 
"  There  are  no  men  down  there." 

"  All  right,  there  are  not." 

"  Which  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Dick  slowly,  "  it's  about  like  this. 
You'll  say  I'm  lying  anyway.  Take  your 
choice." 

Again  the  man's  palm  caught  the  boy  across  the 
mouth.  It  was  all  Dick  could  do  to  control  himself. 


THE  BOY'S   EYES   NEVER   FALTERED  " 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          245 

He  heard  Scott  heave  at  the  ropes  which  bound  him. 
"  See  here,"  the  boy  exclaimed  coldly,  "  you  can 
go  on  slamming  me  around  till  your  arms  ache,  but 
it  won't  get  you  anywhere.  You've  got  a  lot  to 
learn  about  Americans;  one  thing  is,  we  don't 
squeal." 

The  man  stepped  closer,  his  fist  drawn  back.  But 
the  boy's  eyes  never  faltered  as  they  held  his,  and  it 
was  the  tormentor  who  was  the  first  to  speak.  "  I'd 
test  that,  if  I  had  time,"  he  growled. 

"  You'll  be  given  the  time,"  declared  Scott ; 
"  there  are  about  a  hundred  million  people  going  to 
see  to  that.  Quit  bluffing !  it  hasn't  gotten  you  any 
where  yet." 

"  Put  them  both  out  of  the  way,"  growled 
Schwartz. 

"  No,"  voted  Weinberg.  "  We  should  leave  no 
trail  behind  us." 

"  Silence !  "  growled  the  angry  man.  "  I  know 
my  business.  This  grit  of  theirs  shall  stand  a  little 
test.  They  shall  be  left  here,  bound,  to  converse 
about  their  courage  until  hunger  brings  them  face  to 


246  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

face  with  silence.  Some  day  they  may  be  found. 
They  will  tell  no  tales  then." 

"  What !  "  Scott's  voice  was  sharp  with  incred 
ulity.  He  grasped  the  whole  diabolical  plan, 
knew  how  small  a  chance  there  was  of  any  one's 
finding  them,  knew  what  their  sufferings  would 
be  as  they  lay  there  dying  from  hunger  and  thirst. 
Dick's  face,  too,  was  white.  "  It's  better  than 
having  to  stay  here  with  them,  Jim,"  he  said. 
"  You  ought  to  hear  Oscar  Weinberg  talk  about  his 
father." 

The  shot  in  the  air  reached  its  mark.  Dick  saw 
the  big  man  wince,  but,  before  he  could  speak  again, 
the  leader  gave  him  a  shove  and  sent  him  reeling 
into  a  bunk.  "Out!"  he  ordered.  "We  have 
much  yet  to  do  and  these  two  have  ceased  to  amuse 
me." 

"We're  a  long  way  from  down  and  out,"  Jim 
Scott  called  after  him,  "  though  what  I  could  do  to 
a  beefsteak  is  a  shame.  Well,"  he  added,  as  the 
door  closed  with  a  violent  bang,  "looks  like  we 
were  in  for  a  social  time,  Dickie." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          247 

"  Do  you  think  they'll  really  leave  us  here  to 
starve  ?  " 

"That's  the  least  of  their  troubles,"  retorted 
Scott  soberly.  "  We're  in  for  it  good  and  plenty, 
unless  some  one  comes." 

All  at  once  Dick's  face  brightened.  "  Some  one 
will,"  he  declared.  "  I'd  almost  forgotten  the 
Beavers.  They,  and  the  other  Scouts,  will  find  us. 
They'll  never  give  up." 

"Hope  you're  right,"  confessed  Scott;  "I'm 
counting  more  on  you  and  me,  though.  We'll  get 
away  some  how.  I've  been  in  a  heap  of  tight  cor 
ners  and  there's  always  a  weak  link  in  every  crook's 
game." 

"  But  we've  got  to  get  out  of  this  before  night. 
We've  got  to  get  word  to  Stephen  Kendall." 

"  We'll  do  it,  all  right." 

"How?" 

"  You  ask  me  one  question  at  a  time,  Dickie.  But 
we'll  do  it." 

"  We'll  try,"  agreed  the  boy  sturdily.  "  We  can 
at  least  try." 


248  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  Wish  they  hadn't  taken  your  knife." 

"  Wouldn't  do  much  good,  when  our  hands  are 
tied." 

"  How  are  your  teeth  on  a  long  chew?  " 

"  Good  enough  to  risk,"  answered  Dick.  "  But 
they  might  come  back  and  catch  me.  That  would 
spoil  that  chance." 

"  That's  so,"  agreed  Jim.  "  Can't  pull  old  stuff 
on  this  crowd,  I  guess;  they're  too  wise." 

Dick  was  thoughtful  for  a  long  time.  "  Jim," 
he  asked  at  last,  "  one  of  us  might  not  get  through, 
if  we  do  get  a  start.  I  don't  know  enough  about 
their  plans  to  tell  much.  Do  you?" 

"  I  know  that  they've  made  a  couple  of  infernal 
machines  which  they  expect  to  pass  into  the  factory 
to-night.  Two  of  their  crowd  are  still  there." 

"Who  are  they?" 

"  Don't  know.  One  thing  they've  been  al 
mighty  careful  about,  and  that's  names.  I  don't 
even  know  the  name  of  that  chap  who  slammed  you 
around." 

"  We've  got  to  get  to  the  village  ahead  of  them," 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          249 

declared  the  boy ;  "  we've  got  to  warn  Dal  Tregres- 
sor." 

"Sure,  but  how?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  he  sighed ;  "  I  wish  I  did  but  I 
don't.  The  Scouts  are  about  our  only  hope." 

Scott  didn't  have  even  that  hope,  but  his  more 
experienced  mind  was  active.  Their  conversation 
lagged,  died  out.  Both  worked  out  plan  after  plan 
in  silence,  only  to  reject  each  one  as  impossible. 
Slowly  the  day  dragged  on  and  their  need  became 
more  pressing  as  their  hope  became  less. 

Twice  during  the  afternoon  Weinberg  came  into 
the  hut,  only  to  go  out  again  without  speaking. 
None  of  the  others  came  back.  It  was  evident  to 
Scott  that  the  gang  planned  to  travel  light  in  their 
get-away.  Given  a  few  hours  start,  they  would  be 
comparatively  safe.  Once  in  a  big  city,  it  would 
be  difficult  to  pick  up  their  trail. 

It  was  almost  dark  when  Schwartz  finally  put  in 
an  appearance.  In  silence,  he  went  to  a  corner, 
carefully  removed  much  loose  dirt  from  the  lid  of  a 
buried  box,  and  lifted  out  two  square  objects  which 


250  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

he  handled  with  great  tenderness.  As  he  carried 
them  toward  the  door,  he  stopped  an  instant  beside 
Scott.  "  One  time,"  he  sneered,  "  you  make  me 
salute  the  flag  of  you.  This  time  it  is  I  who  will 
make  a  little  salute." 

"  Hope  it  kills  you,"  snarled  Scott,  beside  himself 
at  last. 

Schwartz  kicked  him  contemptuously,  then 
laughed  as  he  walked  out.  "  Listen  well  for  our 
salute/'  he  said.  "  But  it  is  you  who  are  to  die." 

"  Roll  over  here,  Dick."  Scott's  voice  was  tense 
now  and  the  boy  came  out  of  the  bunk  with  a  crash. 
"  Come  close.  Get  your  wrists  near  my  mouth." 

"  My  teeth  are  stronger,  Jim." 

"  Obey.  We've  no  time  to  lose.  They're  going 
down  the  mountain." 

The  boy  hitched  himself  across  the  floor  without  a 
word.  He  trusted  the  man  implicitly  now.  He 
wiggled  around  until  he  felt  Scott's  face  on  his 
hands.  The  next  moment  came  sharp  tugs  at  the 
rope  which  bound  him.  Then  Scott  settled  down  to 
steady,  desperate  gnawing. 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          251 

Both  were  so  intent  on  the  well-nigh  hopeless 
task  that  they  did  not  hear  the  door  when  it  was 
pushed  softly  open,  nor  the  quick  step  on  the  dirt 
floor.  "What  is  it  that  proceeds  here?"  It  was 
Weinberg. 

With  a  groan,  Scott's  head  fell  back.  "It's 
all  up !  "  he  gasped. 

"  It's  not."  Dick's  voice  rang  true  and  courage 
ous.  It  was  as  if  he  had  just  begun  to  fight. 

Weinberg  stooped  and  rolled  the  boy  into  the 
center  of  the  floor.  "  What  is  it,"  he  asked  in  a 
low  voice,  "  that  my  son  says  of  his  father?  " 

"  He's  a  decent  boy ;  he's  through  with  you." 

"  Ach!  "  It  was  sheer  pain  which  drew  that  ex 
clamation  from  the  father.  "  What  knows  he  of 
duty?" 

"  He  said  he'd  give  you  up,  if  he  knew  where 
you  were.  That's  his  idea  of  duty  to  his  country." 

"  Duty  is  to  obey.  Tell  him  that  the  father  of 
him  sent  that  message." 

"  Swell  chance  we've  got  to  deliver  any  last  mes 
sages,"  exclaimed  Scott.  "  I  won't  insult  an  honest 


252  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

kid  by  giving  him  any  messages  from  the  likes  of 
you." 

"  I  am  the  father  of  him ;  you  do  not  compre 
hend." 

"  Blamed  glad  I've  no  son  to  apologize  to." 

"  I  make  no  apology ;  it  is  that  I  but  explain  my 
duty.  It  is  you,  Hall,  who  will  take  to  Oscar  that 
word." 

"  If  I  ever  see  him  again,  I'll  tell  him." 

"  You  shall  see  him."  He  straightened,  and, 
drawing  a  knife  from  his  pocket  opened  it  and  * 
tossed  it  into  a  bunk.  "  There  is  the  opportunity 
for  you,"  he  said.  "  The  hours  it  shall  take  to 
work  you  free,  gives  to  us  safety.  That  I  pay  for 
your  explanations  to  my  son.  I  run  now  that  I 
may  not  be  missed."  With  that,  he  turned  and  lum 
bered  out  into  the  gathering  dusk. 

"  Crooked,  even  to  his  own  gang ! "  sneered 
Scott. 

"  It's  the  first  decent  thing  he  ever  did,"  contra 
dicted  Dick,  already  wiggling  toward  that  knife. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

STEPHEN    KENDALL   SPEAKS 

IT  was  Sally  Hall  who,  beside  herself  with  anx 
iety,  had  rushed  down  to  the  factory  yard  at  mid 
night,  in  search  of  Dal  Tregressor.  "  Dick !  "  she 
panted.  "  Something's  happened  to  Dick !  We 
haven't  seen  him  since  noon.  He  always  tells  father 
when  he's  going  to  be  late.  He's  been  hurt ! " 

"  Guess  not,"  replied  Dal  cheerfully.  "  He's  able 
to  take  care  of  himself."  Many  things  flashed 
through  the  big  fellow's  brain.  "  Where  have  you 
looked?" 

"  Everywhere.     No  one's  seen  him." 

"Who's  with  him?" 

"  No  one,  as  near  as  we  can  find  out.  He  started 
for  a  walk.  We  don't  even  know  which  way  he 
went.  And  he  isn't  strong.  Oh,  something's  hap 
pened  to  him,  I  know  something's  happened  to  him ! 
Father  thinks  so,  too." 

Dal  bit  his  lip.     If  Tom  Hall  was  worried,  there 

253 


254  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

was  good  cause  for  others  to  be  afraid.  Knowing 
that  Mr.  Hall  was  familiar  with  much  that  had 
happened,  Dai's  own  mind  was  not  slow  in  coming 
to  a  conclusion.  "  The  best  thing  you  can  do,"  he 
said  kindly,  "  is  to  go  home  and  tell  your  father 
everything's  all  right,  because  we  people  are  going 
to  get  right  on  the  job.  We'll  have  Dick  home  be 
fore  you  get  there.  Now  run ;  I'm  going  to  see  Mr. 
Kendall." 

"Will  he  help  find  Dick?" 

"  Don't  think  he'll  do  much  else  till  he  has  found 
him.  We're  all  mighty  fond  of  that  kid  down  here. 
Want  me  to  send  some  one  home  with  you  ?  " 

"  No  thanks." 

"  And  you'll  go  straight  home,  Sally  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  promised  valiantly.  "  If  you  say 
you'll  find  Dick,  you  will." 

"  You  bet  we  will !  "  But  if  she  could  have  seen 
his  face  as  he  ran  into  Stephen  Kendall's  office,  her 
fear  would  have  grown  to  terror. 

Dal  told  his  story  in  mighty  few  words.  "  And 
I  don't  believe  any  lad  my  father's  taught  woodcraft 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          255 

has  been  lost  or  hurt,"  he  finished.  "  He's  dis 
appeared  because  he's  been  made  to  disappear.  It's 
the  Weinberg  gang.  They've  got  it  in  for  him." 

"  Sooner  this  thing's  forced  to  a  finish,  the  better," 
snapped  Kendall.  "  I'm  through  waiting ;  I'm  going 
to  take  the  fight  to  them.  Nothing's  going  to  hap 
pen  to  that  boy." 

"  Not  as  long  as  I've  a  fight  left  in  me,"  echoed 
Dal.  "  What  are  the  orders  ?  " 

"  Hunt  for  him.  Some  one  must  have  seen  him 
yesterday  afternoon.  Round  up  the  railway  sta 
tion  and  other  places  in  town.  If  you  don't  get 
track  of  him,  come  back.  One  of  my  machines  will 
be  here  by  then.  Drive  over  the  roads  to  the  south ; 
I'm  going  north." 

"  How  about  the  other  ways  ?  " 

"  Rout  out  North  on  your  way  up  town.  He'll 
take  care  of  the  state  road  east;  there's  nothing  west 
ward.  Dick  went  either  up  or  down  the  valley. 
I'm  sure  of  that." 

"  All  right.  Get  word  back,  if  you  find  him  or 
want  help." 


256  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  I'll  telephone  here  whenever  I  can  find  an  in 
strument.  Do  the  same." 

"  Good."  Dal  wheeled  and  rushed  out.  But 
dawn  came,  and  with  it,  no  good  news.  At  seven 
o'clock,  Stephen  Kendall,  dusty  and  hollow-eyed, 
drove  up  to  the  factory.  Twenty  minutes  later  Tre- 
gressor,  too,  returned,  baffled  but  not  discouraged. 

"  My  men  want  to  go  out  and  hunt,"  he  an 
nounced.  "  The  kid's  —  oh,  well,"  he  finished 
gruffly,  "  they  feel  about  the  way  we  do  toward 
him." 

"  Let  half  go.  If  it's  a  trap,  we  can't  afford  to 
be  caught  unguarded." 

"  How  about  the  Aunt  Lizzies  ?  " 

"  North's  getting  them  out.  But,  Dal,  none  of 
these  men  can  do  more  than  ask  questions.  We've 
got  to  organize  this." 

"How  about  the  Boy  Scouts?" 

"Will  your  father—" 

"  Watch  that  whole  outfit,"  broke  in  Dal.  "  Let 
me  take  a  car  till  T  get  them  started." 

But  that  work  was  saved  him.     Mr.  Tregressor 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          257 

had  heard  the  news.  Even  before  he  had  gone  over 
to  see  Tom  Hall,  he  had  sent  word  to  Jimmie  Farns- 
worth.  "  Bullet  "  Kendall  himself  changed  the  re 
quest  to  an  order  and  every  Scout  in  his  employ  was 
told  to  report  to  the  scoutmaster.  Dal  found  the 
front  yard  full  of  lads  in  khaki,  but  they  were  a 
quiet,  sober-faced  lot  who  realized  that  each  pass 
ing  hour  added  to  their  responsibility. 

He  had  expected  to  play  some  part  in  assigning 
them  to  their  work,  but  his  advice  was  not  asked 
and  he  saw  his  aid  was  not  needed.  Mr.  Tregres- 
sor's  only  instructions,  as  he  sent  them  out  in  squads 
of  twos  and  threes,  were,  "Find  Dick!"  How 
they  should  do  it,  was  a  part  of  that  schooling  now 
being  put  to  such  a  severe  test. 

It  was  Farnsworth,  with  Nick  Root  as  his  assist 
ant,  who  was  assigned  to  the  eastern  side  of  the 
tipper  valley  road.  They  went  out  of  the  town  re 
solved  to  stay  out  until  Dick  was  found. 

Nick,  with  his  characteristic  impulsiveness,  was 
all  for  making  a  break  and  getting  ahead  of  the 
slow-working  searchers  from  the  factory  and  Ken- 


258  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

clall  Guards,  but  Jimmie  insisted  on  thoroughness, 
fearful  lest  some  important  clew  be  overlooked  and 
Dick's  peril  increased.  The  boy  was  certain  that 
his  friend  had  fallen  and  broken  a  leg.  "  He'd  have 
come  home  before  now,  if  he  hadn't,"  he  stated. 
"  Don't  believe  one  busted  leg  would  have  stopped 
him,  either.  Probably  both  are  smashed." 

"  How  we  goin'  to  carry  him  back,  then?  " 

"  Dunno.  Let's  find  him  first.  I'm  going  into 
that  farm  house  and  ask  again." 

"  You've  been  there  twice." 

"  I'd  go  there  fifty  times,  if  I  thought  I  could 
learn  anything." 

It  was  with  that  sort  of  thoroughness  that  Jimmie 
Farnsworth  worked  his  way  out  along  the  valley 
road.  Time  after  time  they  separated,  to  hunt  in 
groves  and  fields  for  some  sign  of  Dick's  trail. 
Often,  when  far  apart,  they  stopped  to  wigwag  mes 
sages  of  defeat  or  encouragement  to  each  other; 
often  they  wondered  if  some  of  the  other  Scouts 
were  meeting  with  better  success,  but  never  did  they 
cease  their  search.  They  had  been  ordered  to  find 


THEY  FOUND  THEIR  REWARD  FOR  THOROUGHNESS 


OF  KENDALL VILLE  259 

Dick  Hall,  and  they  would  keep  at  it  until  they  did, 
or  received  word  that  some  one  else  had  had  that 
good  fortune. 

Many  times  they  saw  one  of  the  Kendall  machines 
dashing  along  the  road.  Once  Mr.  Tregressor  came 
out  to  give  his  boys  words  of  encouragement;  twice 
they  saw  big  Dal  in  a  rushing  car. 

Mile  after  mile  they  covered,  zig-zagging  this 
way  and  that,  running  far  afield  and  questioning 
every  one.  Later  in  the  afternoon  tired  men  began 

to  go  townward,  but  the  boys  gritted  their  teeth 

. 

and  stuck  to  their  work.  And,  by  the  brook  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  they  found  their  reward 
for  thoroughness.  When  Dick  had  decided  to  creep 
up  to  peek  at  that  trout,  he  had  lost  his  handker 
chief.  It  was  Nick  who  pounced  on  it. 

"  Look !  Look !  "  he  cried  excitedly.  "  See  the 
'  Hall '  on  it,  Jim." 

"  It's  his,  all  right,"  gulped  Farnsworth.  "  He's 
somewhere  up  there." 

"  It's  getting  dark." 

"  I  know  it." 


260  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  We  better  go  on." 

"  Wait  a  second,  I  want  to  think.  See  here, 
Nick,"  he  went  on,  after  a  minute,  "  we've  got  the 
trail ;  that's  the  most  important  thing." 

"  Tisn't.     We  want  Dick." 

"  We  got  to  use  our  heads  now.  He  may  be 
way  up  top;  he's  probably  hurt  bad.  It  might  be 
night  when  we  found  him.  We  need  help;  we've 
got  to  get  it.  If  we  got  lost,  it  wouldn't  do  Dick 
a  bit  of  good." 

"That's  so,"  admitted  Nick  sorrowfully.  "I'd 
rather  go  up  but  — " 

"  So'd  I,"  agreed  Jim  instantly,  "  but  we  got  to 
consider  what's  best.  I  can  run  farther'n  you. 
You  stay  here.  I'm  going  for  Dal  Tregressor." 

"All  right,"  sighed  little  Nick;  "'course  I  will. 
But  I'd  like  to  go." 

"  Sure  you  would!     But  we're  workin'  for  Dick." 

"Get  started!"  growled  the  little  chap.  "It's 
gettin'  dark." 

And,  while  Nick  Root  sat  by  that  brook,  and 
Jimmie  Farnsworth  sped  for  help  at  the  top  of  his 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          261 

speed,  high  up  on  the  mountain  the  boy  they  thought 
half  dead  was  working  with  the  fury  of  a  cornered 
tiger. 

How  Dick  freed  Jim's  hands  with  the  knife  he 
held  between  his  teeth,  neither  of  them  ever  knew. 
It  was  a  question  of  saving  the  seconds  and  for 
getting  the  cuts.  Free  at  last,  they  faced  a  new 
difficulty.  Scott,  long  tied,  was  so  stiff  and  sore 
that  he  could  barely  stand.  "  You've  got  to  go  it 
alone,"  he  stated.  "  I'll  follow  somehow  —  but  go, 
go  as  you  never  went  before !  It's  all  up  to  you  — 
plant,  men,  everything." 

For  a  moment  Dick's  own  aching  hand  clasped 
that  of  his  friend.  "  It's  up  to  me,"  he  agreed 
steadily,  and  stumbled  out. 

Each  step  hurt.  The  muscles,  which  should  have 
been  so  full  of  spring,  kinked  and  faltered.  He 
dared  not  run  for  fear  of  falling.  He  risked  an 
instant's  rest  against  the  trunk  of  a  spruce.  The 
blood  was  pounding  in  his  ears,  and  he  was  faint 
from  lack  of  food  and  thirsty  beyond  belief. 

Such  things  he  must  forget.     The  fate  of  the 


262  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

Kendall  shops  rested  in  his  hands.  It  was  a  time 
to  test  both  grit  and  courage  to  the  limit.  He  was  a 
Scout  and  a  Hall.  He  was  prepared  and  he  could 
not  fail.  For  him,  the  mountain-side  was  pathless. 
His  only  direction  lay  downward.  Somewhere  be 
low,  ran  the  road  to  Kendallville ;  and  somewhere 
below  six  desperate  men  were  marching  toward  that 
same  highway. 

Starting  at  as  fast  a  walk  as  he  could  manage,  he 
hoped,  at  the  end  of  those  first  fifty  painful  steps,  to 
be  able  to  break  into  a  trot.  The  Scout's  pace  had 
served  well,  the  day  before.  Would  it  now  be  the 
means  of  saving  Kendallville? 

Twice  his  leaden  feet  caught  in  exposed  roots 
and  threw  him  headlong.  As  he  rose  the  second 
time,  he  heard  a  crash  farther  above.  Scott  was 
also  stumbling  down  the  mountain.  It  gave  him 
new  courage  and  he  began  to  run.  The  woods 
thickened.  Twice  he  had  to  fight  through  tangled 
masses  of  underbrush.  His  legs  felt  better  and 
hope  rose.  A  drink  from  that  brook,  and  he  would 
be  himself  again. 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          263 

To  the  right,  he  thought  he  saw  a  path.  He  took 
the  chance  of  added  steps  and  found  a  trail.  It 
wound  downward,  offering  better  footing  and  he 
increased  his  pace,  heedless  of  all  but  time. 

A  startled  challenge  broke  the  silence.  There 
was  no  mistaking  Schwartz's  voice.  He  had  run 
into  their  rear  guard.  Without  stopping  to  weigh 
the  result,  he  wheeled  to  the  left  and  went  crashing 
into  the  woods,  making  no  attempt  at  anything  but 
speed.  A  pistol  barked.  To  the  right,  he  heard  the 
spat  of  a  bullet  against  a  tree.  He  was  playing 
hide  and  seek  with  death  in  the  dark  woods.  He 
ran  for  his  own  life  as  well  as  the  lives  of  others. 

Came  the  second  shot.  This  time  he  heard  the 
whine  of  the  bullet.  Quick  shouts  rang  out.  From 
the  noise,  he  judged  that  one  man  followed  him. 
A  second  would  try  to  head  him  off.  He  thought 
of  Scott.  What  if  he,  too,  was  working  to  the 
south.  One  of  them  must  get  through.  "  Jim !  " 
he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice.  "  I'm  going 
south." 

There  came  no  answer.    He  knew  Scott  was  too 


264  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

canny  to  risk  one.  All  that  he  heard  was  the  crash 
of  his  pursuer.  The  man  was  gaining.  Dick  tried 
to  run  faster.  His  tongue  was  a  great,  dry  lump  in 
his  burning  mouth.  His  breath  seared  his  throat. 
For  a  moment,  the  noise  behind  him  grew  fainter. 
Then,  once  more,  the  man  began  to  gain. 

Now  the  woods  seemed  strangely  familiar.  The 
footing  was  better,  he  risked  changing  his  course  a 
trifle.  Down-hill  work  was  easier.  From  behind, 
came  that  steady  pound,  pound,  of  the  feet  which 
bore  his  fate.  Then,  like  a  bomb,  open  sky  and 
vast  space  burst  in  his  face.  He  was  on  the  edge 
of  that  cliff. 

Far,  far  away,  he  saw  the  lights  of  Kendallville. 
If  he  failed  now,  they  went  out.  His  head  went 
back  and  his  eyes  grew  very  wide.  The  distant 
lights  faded  from  his  sight.  He  had  gone  through 
much,  but,  now,  as  he  faced  the  crisis,  he  knew  he 
could  face  still  more.  For  this  he  had  stayed  be 
hind.  This  was  his  "  bit."  He  leaped. 

Why  he  was  not  killed,  none  who  examined  the 
place,  in  weeks  to  come,  could  explain.  But,  Dick, 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          265 

even  as  he  lay  stunned  and  shaken  knew.  His  first 
remembrance  was  of  a  fusillade  from  the  cliff  above, 
the  crash  of  bullets  against  rocks  and  trees,  the  bel- 
lo wings  of  a  man  who  dared  not  follow,  but  fired 
as  he  hunted  a  safe  descent. 

Again  he  struggled  to  his  feet.  To  his  vague 
amazement,  his  body  felt  still  intact.  He  started 
downward  at  little  better  than  a  crawl,  leaning  now 
against  a  friendly  trunk,  now  on  some  cool  rock. 
Above,  the  man  still  shouted.  From  his  own  right 
came  less  distinct  replies. 

He  came  to  the  brook.  Throwing  himself  full 
length,  he  buried  his  battered  face  in  the  icy  water. 
Twice  he  took  deep  gulps,  then  stopped.  Thirsty 
as  he  was,  he  remembered  Mr.  Tregressor's  warn 
ing  against  too  deep  draughts  when  there  was  work 
to  be  done.  He  rose  and  started  straight  down. 
From  here  he  knew  the  way.  His  map  was  burned 
on  his  memory  and  he  recognized  indistinct  land 
marks.  The  road  was  less  than  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  away.  Once  on  the  highway  and  he  could 
make  better  time.  He  wondered  how  things  were 


266  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

with  Scott.  Even  the  night  seemed  brighter.  His 
steps  hurt  less  and  less.  His  ankle  burned  strangely 
but  that,  too,  would  be  better.  Once  he  thought  he 
heard  voices,  but  they  were  far  away.  He  had  won 
the  start  which  meant  safety  for  the  factory.  Once 
warned,  good  old  Dal  would  see  to  the  rest. 

Ahead,  he  thought  he  heard  the  tumble  of  the 
waterfall  into  that  pool  where  he  had  watched  the 
trout.  He  was  almost  out.  Remembering  the 
thicket  through  which  he  had  crept,  he  turned 
sharply  to  the  left.  A  light  was  flashed  into  his 
eyes.  He  heard  a  sharp  exclamation,  but,  head 
down,  he  went  in,  still  ready  to  prove  his  metal. 

But  this  time  he  fought  proved  steel.  A  hand 
grasped  his  shoulder.  "  What  do  you  think  you're 
trying  to  do  ?  " 

"  Dal !     Dal !  "     The  cry  was  half  sob. 

"  Who  else  ?  Nice  scare  you've  given  us. 
Thought  something  crooked  was  up.  Thought 
Weinberg  — " 

"He  has.  They're  there.  Wait!  Listen!" 
He  gulped  out  his  story  in  short,  panting  sentences 


OF  KENDALLVILLE          267 

and  Tregressor  guessed  more  than  the  boy  told.  A 
new  expression  came  over  his  face,  an  expression 
Dick  would  not  have  recognized,  even  could  he  have 
seen  it  —  the  fighting  look  of  a  man  who  knows 
what  a  desperate  fight  means. 

"  Come,"  he  commanded  abruptly;  "you've  done 
your  bit;  I'll  carry  on."  He  rushed  Dick  back  to 
the  road.  "  Douse  those  lights !  "  he  ordered. 

"  Who's  with  you,  Dal?" 

"  Steve  Kendall  and  a  pair  of  Scouts." 

"  Have  you  found  him,  Dal  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  more.     Start  that  car." 

It  was  Stephen  Kendall  who  lifted  the  lad  into 
the  big  machine,  but  it  was  Tregressor  who  did  the 
explaining.  "  Scott's  still  in  there,"  he  finished. 
"  I  know  what'll  happen,  if  they  get  him.  Get  Dick 
back  to  the  village." 

"  No."  It  was  Dick  who  spoke.  "  I'm  going  to 
see  this  through." 

"  No,  you're  not,  youngster,"  contradicted  Stephen 
Kendall,  with  a  queer  catch  in  his  voice ;  "  you're 
going  home  with  Jim  and  Nick.  North  will  drive 


268  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

you.     You've     done     your    part    like     a     man." 
"  And  a  soldier,"  added  Dal  Tregressor.     "  Come 

on,  Steve,  old  son.     Our  work's  up  there  above." 
"  Let's  get  at  it,  then."     Stephen's  voice  was  as 

gay  as  Dai's,  yet  both  knew  what  they  went  to  face. 


But  from  neither  of  them  could  any  one  ever  drag 
the  story  of  that  fight  in  the  dark. 

Dick,  steadied  by  a  night's  sleep,  did  his  best  to 
make  both  tell,  when  they  came  to  see  him.  "  Dal 
was  the  one  who  found  Scott,"  said  Kendall. 

"  Sure  he's  all  right?     You're  not  fooling  me?  " 

"  'Course  not." 

"  Thanks.     But  after  you  found  him?  " 

"  We  were  all  right.  We  knew  where  we  were," 
said  Mr.  Kendall. 

"  You  did,"  corrected  Tregressor.  "  You're  a 
wonder !  I  never  saw  better  nerve." 

"But  how  did  you  capture  them  all?"  insisted 
the  boy.  "  Father  says  Weinberg's  dead  and  that 
chap  who  slapped  me,  badly  wounded." 


OF  KENDALL VILLE          269 

"  Then  let  him  tell  you  the  rest,"  growled  Dal ; 
"  I'm  trying  to  forget  it." 

"  Gee !  "  sighed  the  youngster.  "  But  I  wish  I 
had  the  courage  of  you  two ! " 

"Umph!  Where'd  you  pack  any  more?  Be 
fore  I  forget  it,  father  asked  me  to  tell  you  he's 
sending  in  a  recommendation  to  have  them  give  you 
the  Scout  Medal  of  Honor." 

"  The  medal  ?     For  me !  "  exclaimed  Dick. 

"  Why  not  ?  Guess  you  saved  quite  a  few  lives 
last  night.  Thinking  of  offering  you  a  little  reward 
myself,"  Dal  added,  realizing  the  need  of  giving  the 
lad  time  to  recover ;  "  don't  know  but  I'll  give  you  a 
job  with  my  Terriers.  The  Aunt  Lizzies  don't  half 
appreciate  you." 

"  Suppose  you  let  me  offer  the  job  at  the  plant," 
suggested  Mr.  Kendall ;  "  Dick's  coming  into  my 
office  to  learn  the  business." 

"Stephen!"  It  was  the  first  time  that  Tom 
Hall,  seated  in  his  invalid's  chair,  close  to  Dick, 
had  spoken,  and  now  his  eyes  were  bright  with 
tears. 


270  THE  BOY  SCOUTS 

"  He's  certainly  won  the  chance,  Tom,  and  he'll 
make  good." 

"  But  I've  only  done  my  duty,  sir,"  stammered  the 
delighted  boy. 

"  What  more  can  any  man  do,  Dick?  "  asked  Dal 
Tregressor  soberly. 


THE   END 


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FAMOUS  DISCOVERERS  AND  EXPLORERS 
OF  AMERICA 

"  The  book  is  an  epitome  of  some  of  the  wildest  and 
bravest  adventures  of  which  the  world  has  known  and  of 
discoveries  which  have  changed  the  face  of  the  old  world 
as  well  as  of  the  new."  —  Brooklyn  Daily  Eagle. 
A.     v 


BOOKS  FOR  70UNG  PEOPLE 

HILDEGARDE- MARGARET  SERIES 

By  LATTHA  E.  RICHARDS 
Eleven  Volumes 

The  Hildegarde-Margaret  Series,  beginning  with 
"  Queen  Hildegarde "  and  ending  with  '•  The  Merry- 
weathers,"  make  one  of  the  best  and  most  popular  series 
of  books  for  girls  ever  written. 

Each  large  12mo,  cloth  decorative,  illustrated, 

per  volume        .......    $1.25 

The  eleven  volumes  boxed  as  a  set     .         .         .  $13.75 

LIST  OF  TITLES 
QUEEN  HILDEGARDE 

HILDEGARDE 'S  HOLIDAY 

HILDEGARDE'S   HOME 

HILDEGARDE'S   NEIGHBORS 

HILDEGARDE'S   HARVEST 

THREE  MARGARETS 

MARGARET  MONTFORT 

PEGGY 

RITA 

FERNLEY  HOUSE 

THE  MERRYWEATHERS 
A— 5 


THE    PAGE    COMPANY'S 


THE  CAPTAIN  JANUARY  SERIES 

By  LATTRA  E.  RICHARDS 

Each  one  volume,  l%mo,  cloth  decorative,  illus 
trated,  per  volume  .     50  cents;  carriage  paid,  60  cents 

CAPTAIN   JANUARY 

A  charming  idyl  of  New  England  coast  life,  whose 
success  has  been  very  remarkable. 

SAME.     Illustrated  Holiday  Edition       .         .     $1.25 

MELODY:    THE  STORY  OF  A  CHILD. 

MARIE 

A  companion  to  "  Melody "  and  "  Captain  January." 

ROSIN   THE   BEAU 

A  sequel  to  "  Melody  "  and  "  Marie." 
SNOW-WHITE;    OR,  THE  HOUSE  IN  THE  WOOD. 

JIM    OF    HELLAS;   OR,   IN   DURANCE   VXLE,   and   a 
companion  story,  BETHESDA  POOL. 

NARCISSA 

And  a  companion  story,  IN  VERONA,  being  two  delight 
ful  short  stories  of  New  England  life. 

"SOME   SAY" 

And  a  companion  story,  NEIGHBORS  IN  CYRUS. 

NAUTILUS 

" '  Nautilus '  is  by  far  the  best  product  of  the  author's 
powers,  and  is  certain  to  achieve  the  wide  success  it  so 
richly  merits." 

ISLA   HERON 

This  interesting  story  is  written  in  the  author's  usual 
charming  manner. 

THE   LITTLE   MASTER 

"  A  well  told,  interesting  tale  of  a  high  character."  - 
California  Gateway  Gazette. 
A— 6 


BOOKS   FOR    YOU  NO   PEOPLE 


DELIGHTFUL  BOOKS  FOR  LITTLE 
FOLKS 

By  LAURA  E.   RICHARDS 

THREE   MINUTE   STORIES 

Cloth  decorative,  12mo,  with  eight  plates  in  full  color 
and  many  text  illustrations       ....     $1.25 
"  Little  ones  will  understand  and  delight  in  the  stories 
and  poems."  —  Indianapolis  News. 

FIVE   MINUTE    STORIES 

Cloth  decorative,  square  12mo,  illustrated       .     $1.26 
A  charming  collection  of  short  stories  and  clever  poems 

for  children. 

MORE   FIVE   MINUTE   STORIES 

Cloth  decorative,  square   12mo,  illustrated       .     $1.25 
A  noteworthy  collection  of  short  stories  and  poems 

for  children,  which  will  prove  as  popular  with  mothers 

as  with  boys  and  girls. 

FIVE   MICE   IN    A   MOUSE    TRAP 
Cloth  decorative,  square  12mo,  illustrated       .     $1.25 
The  story  of  their  lives  and  other  wonderful  things 

related  by  the  Man  in  the  Moon,  done  in  the  vernacular 

from  the  lunacular  form  by  Laura  E.  Richards. 

POLLYANNA   ANNUAL   NO.    I 

Trade  Mark 

The  Yearly  GLAD  Book. 
Trade Mark 

Edited  by  FLORENCE  ORVILLE. 

Large  octavo,  with  nearly  200  illustrations,  12  in  full 

color,  bound  with  an  all-over  pictorial  cover  design  in 

colors,  with  fancy  printed  end  papers. 

$1.50;  carriage  paid  $1.65 

"The  contents  of  this  splendid  volume  are  evidently 
intended  to  demonstrate  the  fact  that  work  is  as  good 
a  glad  game  as  play  if  gone  about  the  right  way.  There 
are  clever  little  drawings  any  one  could  imitate,  and  in 
imitating  learn  something.  There  are  adventurous  tales, 
fairy  tales,  scientific  tales,  comic  stories  and  serious 
stories  in  verse  and  prose."  —  Montreal  Herald  and  Star. 
A— 7 


THE    PAGE    COMPANY'S 


THE  BOYS'  STORY  OF  THE 
RAILROAD  SERIES 

By  BURTON  E.  STEVENSON 
Each  large  12mo,  cloth  decorative,  illustrated, 

per  volume $1.50 

THE   YOUNG   SECTION-HAND;    OB,   THE    AD- 

VENTURES  OF   ALLAN   WEST. 

"  The  whole  range  of  section  railroading  is  covered  in 
the  story."  —  Chicago  Post. 

THE   YOUNG   TRAIN   DISPATCHER 

"  A  vivacious  account  of  the  varied  and  often  hazard 
ous  nature  of  railroad  life."  —  Congregationalist. 

THE  YOUNG  TRAIN  MASTER 

"  It  is  a  book  that  can  be  unreservedly  commended  to 
anyone  who  loves  a  good,  wholesome,  thrilling,  informing 
varn."  —  Passaic  News. 
THE    YOUNG    APPRENTICE;  OR,  ALLAN  WEST'S 

CHUM. 

"The  story  is  intensely  interesting."  —  Baltimore  Sun. 

STORIES  BY 
BREWER  CORCORAN 

Each,  one  volume,  12mo,  cloth  decorative,  illus 
trated,  per  volume    ......     $1.50 

THE   BOY   SCOUTS    OF   KENDALLVILLE 

Published  -with  the  approval  of  "  The  Boy  Scouts  of 

America" 

The  story  of  a  bright  young  factory  worker  who  can 
not  enlist  because  he  has  three  dependents,  but  his 
knowledge  of  woodcraft  and  wig-wagging  gained  through 
Scout  practice  enables  him  to  foil  a  German  plot  to  blow 
up  the  munitions  factory. 

THE    BARBARIAN;  OH,  WILL  BRADFORD'S  SCHOOL 

DAYS  AT  ST.  Jo's. 

"This  is  a  splendid  story  of   friendship,   study   and 
sport,  winding  up  with  a  perfectly  corking  double  play." 
—  Springfield  Union. 
A— 8 


OF 


THE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  01?  (   VLIFORNU 
LOS  ANGELES 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


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